13 Arrested In Large MetroWest Drug Bust

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Thirteen people were arrested in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking organization, according to a statemen from Massachusetts State Police. The arrests were made Thursday morning in multiple locations following a two-year, multi-agency investigation.

Police executed 19 search warrants and seized approximately 6 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of cocaine, 15 pounds of methamphetamine, 40 pounds of amphetamine, and 15,000 pressed pills of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Police said some of the fentanyl and pills seized were found to contain xylazine, a tranquilizer that has been increasingly mixed with fentanyl, puts users at a higher risk of overdose, and is not reversible with Narcan.

Police also seized one unlawfully possessed gun, three loaded magazines, over $100,000 cash, $200,000 worth of jewelry, several vehicles, and a pill press and other tools used in drug distribution.

The investigation covered communities across multiple counties in Massachusetts with connections in Rhode Island and New York. The search warrants executed Thursday morning were in Framingham, Peabody, Worcester, Ashland, Lawrence, Northbridge, Woburn, and North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

In February, a Middlesex Superior Court judge issued a wiretap authorization to intercept electronic communications related to drug trafficking. Prosecutors gathered evidence that Sandy Marte-Caraballo and Osny De La Cruz were allegedly leading and operating a drug trafficking organization that included dealing to customers in the Woburn, Lawrence, Framingham, Natick, Ashland, and Worcester area, according to the police statement.

The following people were charged in the bust:

• Marte-Caraballo, 34, of Woburn, was charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking methamphetamine, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• De La Cruz, 25, of Lawrence, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, trafficking in fnetanyl over 10 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, and trafficking class B amphetamines over 200 grams.
• Santos Martes, 31 of Peabody, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking cocaine over 200 grams.
• Bryan Mendez, 28, of Worcester, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking cocaine over 200 grams.
• Angel Battiata, 27, was charged with trafficking a class B controlled substance.
• Roberto Castro, 34, of Worcester, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Joshua Fontaine, 30, of Worcester, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, trafficking in cocaine over 36 grams, and trafficking in methamphetamine over 36 grams.
• Charles Johnston, 62, of Ashland, and Crystal Trauterman, 40, of Ashland, were charged with possession with intent to distribute Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine) and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Maia Masso, 28, of Framingham, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking cocaine over 36 grams.
• Cameron Trudell, 32, of Northbridge, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Efrain Urena, 32, of Lawrence, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking cocaine over 200 grams.
• Ana Caraballo, 56, of Worcester, was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking cocaine over 200 grams.

The investigation was conducted by state police, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the MetroWest Drug Task Force, which is comprised of detectives from Framingham, Ashland, Natick, and Marlborough police departments, and several other law enforcement agencies.