Lowell Man Charged With Drug Trafficking After Tewksbury Motel Search

TEWKSBURY, MA — A Lowell man is accused of drug trafficking after police found drugs, including fentanyl, ammunition and cash in a motel room he occupied with other people, the Tewksbury Police Department said.

Bernabe Gonzalez, 48, was charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine (subsequent offense), possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine (subsequent offense), possession with intent to distribute suboxone (subsequent offense), three counts of possession of a Class E substance, possession of a large capacity feeding device and possession of ammunition without a FID, police said.

Two other suspects also were arrested in connection with the case, though police have not named them publicly or listed their crimes.

Gonzalez was arraigned Friday in Lowell District Court, the Tewksbury PD said.

According to police reports, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Tewksbury PD detectives working in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service went to Motel 6, located at 95 Main St., in search of an individual wanted on a federal warrant.

Officers were let into the room, but initially were unable to locate the suspect they were seeking, police said. However, officers did view numerous drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view in the room, the department said.

The Tewksbury PD said an investigation also revealed that Gonzalez and other occupants of the room were wanted on warrants from local courts.

Detectives secured the room and obtained a search warrant for the room and a truck parked outside, police said.

During the warranted search, police seized approximately 77 grams of fentanyl, 3.6 grams of cocaine, 2.3 grams of crack cocaine, 53 suboxone packets, and over a dozen tablets of three different prescription medications, as well as a 15-round magazine, 64 rounds of 9mm handgun ammunition, and $1,546 in cash, the Tewksbury PD said.

Warrants were issued for the arrest of Gonzalez and the other two suspects, and all three soon were taken into custody, the department said.