Tewksbury Police Arrest Two On Cocaine Distribution Charges

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Tewksbury police arrested two men nd charged them with cocaine cocaine distribution last week. One of the men, Edward Cordero-Pinales, 28, of Methuen, is also facing identity fraud charges after allegedly presenting false identification to the arresting officers. Tewksbury Police detectives made the arrests after conducting an investigation into drug dealing in the area of 385 Trull Road.

Also arrested was Edwin Maldonado-Santos, 41, of Lawrence. In a release, Tewksbury police said Cordero-Pinales tried to pass himself off as Carlos Santiago. One of the detectives recognized Cordero-Pinales from a previous drug arrest and was able to confirm that he was not Santiago by conferring with police in Puerto Rico.

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Both men were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which had detainers on them. Cordero-Pinales and Maldonado-Santos were arraigned in Lowell District Court on Monday.

Police said they were continuing to investigate whether or not Cordero-Pinales may have illegally used Santiago's Massachusetts Health Connector card to illegally obtain insurance benefits.

Booking photos of Edward Cordero-Pinales (top) and Edwin Maldonado-SantosTewksbury Police Department.