2 Men Charged With Illegally Selling Fireworks, Police Say

WILMINGTON, MA — Two people were arrested on allegations that they were illegally selling fireworks in Wilmington, according to police.

Police received a tip from a local resident about an illegal fireworks sale on Friday afternoon on Industrial Way, which was being advertised on a flyer.

Police arrested a 56-year-old Nottingham, New Hampshire, man and a 49-year-old Tewksbury man.

Both will be charged with sale/possession of fireworks.

Police said they found 70 unopened boxes of fireworks and 30 opened boxes of fireworks worth an estimated $40,000 to $50,000.

The State Police Bomb Squad has taken possession of all fireworks.

According to statistics released on Sunday by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, illegal fireworks have caused 559 fires and explosions, and 220 serious injuries in Massachusetts in the past five years, police said.

“Fireworks cause injuries and fires each year in Massachusetts, and we will not tolerate their sale or use here in Wilmington,” Police Chief Joseph Desmond said in a statement. “I want to thank the alert resident who brought this case to our attention, and the other agencies that helped us respond.”