Heroin, Cocaine, and Cash Found in Hidden Compartment

PEABODY, MA – Beneath the center console of a car they pulled over on a traffic stop, Peabody detectives found heroin, cocaine, and more than $3,400 in cash.

Last Friday, Edgardo Rivera-Alvarado, 41, of Gorham Street in Lowell, was arrested on charges of possession of a class A and B drugs with intent to distribute, failure to stop for police, a forged motor vehicle document, refusing to identify himself, driving with a revoked license, giving a false name during booking, and another department's warrant. Rivera-Alvarado is being held of $250,000 cash bail.

Detectives Eric Ricci and David B. Murphy pulled a car over on Margin Street during an undercover narcotics operation. According to a statement from the Peabody Police Department, they noticed signs of an electronic hidden compartment inside the car.

Rivera-Alvarado originally told police he was Jose Lopez of Reading, PA, but officers discovered after the booking process that this was a false name.

The Danvers Police K-9 unit came to the scene with K-9 Officer Stryka, who detected narcotics in the car.

Sgt. Stephen Panzini of the Everett Police Department also came to the scene to lend his expertise in locating hidden compartments in cars. Together, the authorities found the compartment under the center console of the vehicle.

Photo courtesy of the Peabody Police Department