Sun Staff Report
A dozen suspects, including two from Lowell, were arrested Friday in connection with what police are calling a major heroin- and fentanyl-trafficking operation that brought large quantities of the drugs into the area.
The large-scale, joint state and federal investigation also resulted in the seizure of nearly one kilogram of heroin and fentanyl. Lowell police assisted with the investigation.
The Lowell suspects arrested on Friday are: Kenni Luna-Percel (a.k.a. Helton Jose Marin Perez) and Kristina Ramos (a.k.a. Ivonne Bolorin).
Luna-Percel is charged with trafficking over 200 grams of heroin (one count), trafficking over 100 grams of heroin (two counts), and conspiracy (one count).
Ramos is charged with trafficking over 200 grams of heroin (one count) and conspiracy (one count).
Friday’s arrests are the result of an extensive investigation involving Attorney General Maura Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, the State Police Transportation Drug Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and Peabody Police Departments.
“These arrests are the result of an extensive joint investigation into heroin and fentanyl targeting those who bring these lethal drugs into our communities,” Healey said in a statement. “We thank our state, federal and local law enforcement partners for working with us to go after these traffickers and dismantle their criminal networks.”
Seven of the 12 suspects are from Lawrence. Two are from Haverhill and one is from Peabody.
The defendants will be arraigned on various drug trafficking and conspiracy charges Monday morning in Lawrence District Court.
During the execution of search warrants at multiple locations in Haverhill and Lawrence Friday, authorities seized about 600 grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl and $21,000 in cash. Prior to Friday’s arrests, authorities seized about 300 grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl during the course of the investigation.
The AG’s Office has been working closely with federal, state and local partners to combat illegal drug trafficking. Healey formed an internal task force to more aggressively combat the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis in Massachusetts.
The AG’s Office has committed a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to form a new Fentanyl Strike Force. In partnership with the Massachusetts State Police, the task force will target heroin and fentanyl traffickers to dismantle their distribution networks across Massachusetts.
Follow Rick Sobey on Twitter @rsobeyLSun.
