Mass. Heroin Traffickers Targeted NH Communities with $100K Worth of Drugs, Feds Say

Federal authorities said they arrested 16 people involved in a Lawrence, Mass.-based heroin trafficking ring that targeted Nashua with about $100,000 worth of drugs.

One of those arrested—Santiago Marino Reyes-Lara, aka Jean Carlos Sotomayor-Venerio, 27, of Lawrence, Mass.—pleaded guilty Tuesday to trafficking drugs. He will be sentenced in September and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Police said on April 22, 2014, officers found crack and heroin hidden in a tire jack in Reyes-Lara’s vehicle. Police said he and the gang concentrated on selling heroin, cocaine, and crack in the Nashua/Hudson area.

Police said the gang used vehicles with hidden electronic compartments to transport the drugs. Authorities seized about $100,000 worth of drugs, $60,000 in cash, and several vehicles.

“Our office will continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement to identify, investigate and prosecute drug traffickers,” said acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith in a statement. “This case demonstrates the excellent results that can be achieved when we combine our resources to take those individuals who would profit from the sale of drugs off the streets.”

Photo: Packs of heroin, not related to this story. (Credit: National Crime Agency)