Two Charged After Tewksbury Bust; Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Suspected
TEWKSBURY (CBS) -- A man and woman were found with 30 kilograms of a substance believed to be the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl Friday, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Monday.
Hilda Gandia, 42, of Lawrence and Agustin Antonio Tejeda Ruis, 45, of Tewksbury were arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court. They were both charged with conspiracy to traffick heroin, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Ruis is also charged with uttering a forged document and identity fraud. Gandia was held on $750,000 bail, and Ruis was held on $1 million bail.
"We are working aggressively to combat the opioid epidemic," said District Attorney Ryan in a release. "Early testing has revealed the presence of fentanyl a powerful synthetic opioid even more potent than heroin, making this seizure extremely significant given the deadly nature of this substance. This investigation has taken potentially millions of dollars worth of dangerous drugs off our streets."
Related: Police Warn About 'Hollywood' Heroin Linked To 5 Deaths In Mass.
State Police, Tewksbury Police, and US Drug Enforcement Administration investigators found the suspected narcotics when they executed a search warrant on Gandia and Ruis's residence Friday. They said they found Ruis with an off-white powder and approximately $21,000. They then said they found 30 kilograms of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl in a preliminary field test. A scale and packaging materials were also found, and investigators discovered "large quantities" of the suspected narcotics in hidden compartments within pieces of Ruis's bedroom furniture.
In a press release, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said they had seen an increasing amount of cases of overdoses--some fatal--due to fentanyl-laced heroin. Last week, authorities warned about the particularly deadly variety of narcotics labeled "Hollywood," which is believed to be heroin laced with fentanyl.
"I am very proud of Tewksbury Police Department's involvement in shutting down this significant drug trafficking operation in our community and I am very appreciative of the collaboration between my Department, the State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Agency during this investigation," Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan said in a release.
The suspected narcotics have been sent to the State Police Drug lab for testing, and the investigation is ongoing. Ruis and Gandia are both due back in court February 9.
