8 Charged In Merrimack Valley Drug Trafficking Investigation

TEWKSBURY, MA — Eight people were arrested and charged in connection with running a major fentanyl trafficking operation in Lawrence, officials said Monday.

Eight Lowell and Lawrence residents were arrested following a joint federal, state and local investigation led by Attorney General Maura Healey's New England Fentanyl Strike Force.

More than two kilograms of fentanyl were seized, Healey said.

The investigation involved the attorney general's Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, Massachusetts state police, the Department of Homeland Security, New Hampshire State police and the Lynn Police Department.

Authorities executed search warrants at six Lawrence locations last week and found roughly $150,000 in cash and 700 grams of fentanyl and cocaine, according to the news release. Authorities had previously seized 1,800 grams of fentanyl and 500 pressed fentanyl pills.

The following eight people were arrested and charged:

• Ricardito Aybar Franco, 32 of Lawrence:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 18-36 grams (13 counts)
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 36-100 grams (4 counts)
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 100-200 grams (3 counts)
  • Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lawrence District Court Sept. 29 and his bail was set at $150,000.
• Chrisleyri Guerrero Tejeda, 24 of Lawrence:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 18-36 grams (1 count)
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 36-100 grams (2 counts)Trafficking a Class A Substance, 100-200 grams (1 count)
  • Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (1 count)
  • She was arraigned in Lawrence District Court Sept. 29 and her bail was set at $25,000.
• Rafael Bernabel-Mejia, 58 of Lawrence:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 36-100 grams (1 count)
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance (1 count)
  • Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lawrence District Court Sept. 29 and his bail was set at $150,000.
• Rafael Gonzalez-Polanco, 26 of Lawrence:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 200 grams or more (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lawrence District Court Sept. 29 and his bail was set at $150,000.
• Wilkin Sanchez Tejeda (aka Marco Delacruz), 41 of Lawrence:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 200 grams or more (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lawrence District Court Sept. 30 and his bail was set at $200,000.
• Alberto Aybar-Franco, 28 of Lawrence:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 100-200 grams (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lawrence District Court Sept. 30 and his bail was set at $100,000.
• Luciano Vasquez, 28 of Lowell:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 200 grams or more (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lowell District Court Aug. 18 and his bail was set at $7,500.
• Anthony Ramos Phillips, 28 of Lowell:
  • Trafficking a Class A Substance, 200 grams or more (1 count)
  • He was arraigned in Lowell District Court on Aug. 18 and his bail was set at $7,500.
  • All of these charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

All people are considered innocent until proven guilty.