Tewksbury Police Nab Man with Meth Lab in Trunk

LOWELL - Tewksbury police charged a Maine man with trafficking in methamphetamine after they stopped him for selling marijuana and then found the equipment for a meth lab in the trunk of his car.

In Lowell District Court on Thursday, Robin S. Flagg Jr., 43, of 195 Glenn Harris Road, New Sharon, Maine, was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty to charges of trafficking in 18 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribute a Class D drug and possession to district a Class D drug.

Tewksbury police allege in court documents that at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Tewksbury Police Drug Unit was conducting surveillance in the area of the Holiday Inn on Route 133 when they saw a Chevrolet Equinox with Florida plates park near the unmarked police cruiser.

Detectives watched as the driver, later identified as Flagg, exit the vehicle and open the truck, removing a white/gray box that had duct tape on the edges. After removing trash bags from the box, Flagg showed his passenger the contents of the box and then he began to remove several large bags of marijuana. Police estimated he removed about a half pound of pot.

As Flagg allegedly handed the passenger a large bag of marijuana, detectives moved in and saw a large bag of marijuana in the passenger's lap along with several $20 bills, police said. After identifying themselves as police, Flagg handed the box of marijuana to police.

Flagg told detectives he was on his way to Maine from Florida and stopped at the Tewksbury hotel to see his friend and former co-worker a bag of marijuana, according to court documents.

When Flagg was questioned about other drugs he may have in the car, he allegedly admitted to having 31 grams of methamphetamines in a bag wrapped up in a sweatshirt in the trunk of his car. He also admitted to having all the equipment to set up a Meth lab in the trunk.

Flagg's next court date is a probable-cause hearing on March 16.

Photo by Lisa Redmond, Patch staff