Nashua Fentanyl Dealer Arrested: Police

NASHUA, NH — A Nashua woman was arrested Thursday on charges she sold the dangerous drug fentanyl on multiple occasions. Melissa King, 27, of Broad Street, refused bail and was held in custody pending an arraignment Friday.

King has a criminal history that includes a conviction for selling heroin in Nashua in 2013. Police said in her current case, she was the target of an investigation into the distribution of fentanyl in the city. Police said they observed her sell heroin on three occasions.

Fentanyl is a pain reliever and frequently used for heroin withdrawal. It's extremely potent—up to 100 times stronger than morphine.

Fentanyl abuse in New Hampshire is a "crisis," state authorities said this year. As of July, there were at least 54 overdose deaths statewide attributed to fentanyl, according to state Attorney General Joseph Foster. Last year, the drug was cited in 280 deaths across the state.

"Fentanyl is a serial killer and those who sell it to our citizens will be held responsible," Foster said last month.

Last month, another Nashua fentanyl dealer who sold on a bigger scale was arrested, police said.

Photo: Nashua police