Three Men Arrested in Connection to Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Overdose Deaths

A Salem man was among three North Shore men that have been indicted for conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Juanel Pena, 26, of Salem was arrested last week, along with Jorge Delgado, also known as Elisaul Martinez Santana, 27, of Peabody.

On Wednesday, Thomas Martinez-Ortiz, 21, of Lynn, was arrested, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

All three men were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, distribution of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, according to federal prosecutors. The trio was alleged to have sold drugs in Salem, Peabody and other areas of Massachusetts from at least March 2013 through September of this year.

The conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl charge carries a sentence up to 20 years in prison, from three years to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine up to $1 million.

An investigation began in April 2014 by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Salem Police Department in response to the sharp increase in opioid overdose deaths, particularly overdose deaths involving fentanyl or heroin, in and around Salem, according to an announcement issued Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.

“The recent surge in overdose deaths resulting from fentanyl-laced heroin is of critical concern to law enforcement and health officials,” Ortiz said in a statement announcing the arrests. “We are committed to working with our local and federal partners in law enforcement to identify hot spots and remove traffickers from the streets in order to stem the flow of these dangerous drugs.”

Salem Police Chief Paul F. Tucker called the arrests part of a “very important investigation” for Salem.

“We believe this investigation and its results will have a much-needed impact on the opioid overdose problem in and around Salem,” Tucker stated.

In addition to Salem police and the DEA, the case was investigated by the Peabody Police Department, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations in Boston. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Young Paik and Michelle Wasserman.