Somerville Man Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Somerville man has been charged with fentanyl trafficking and a number of other drug offenses after he was stopped by police over the weekend. The FBI first tipped Somerville police off 34-year-old Charles Burke, a Flint Street resident, about three years ago. Police said a source initially agreed to cooperate with their investigation into alleged Percocet dealing but ultimately told Burke he was under surveillance, resulting in the end of the investigation.

Recently, Somerville drug officers learned that Burke was still allegedly dealing Percocet and other drugs. He was under surveillance on Saturday, May 12 when officers tailed him first to a Methadone clinic in Chelsea, then two separate Dunkin' Donuts and ultimately to a Home Depot, according to the police report.

Police said Burke got into the passenger seat of a white SUV and then went inside the Home Depot with the driver. The two then left the store and went their separate ways. Officers believed a drug deal had just taken place, the report stated.

Burke then drove to an apartment building and entered it with another man. The two walked out shortly after, and it was believed another drug deal had taken place, according to police.

Burke drove back to Somerville and was stopped as he left his car. Police searched his home and car and found 11 grams of Fentanyl, 7 grams of cocaine, 24 Xanax pills, three trazadone tablets, 48 clonodine pills and 3.5 Quetiapine tablets, according to the report.

He was charged with trafficking in heroin/morphine/opium, possession to distribute cocaine, possession to distribute a Class C drug and possession to distribute a Class E drug (three counts).

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