11 Arrested After Wiretap Investigation Results In Takedown Of Major Drug Trafficking Operation Based In Methuen And Lawrence

A joint operation early Wednesday morning, October 2, 2024, by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office’s Enterprise & Major Crimes Division (EMCD) and the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), in partnership with the MSP Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team (CINRET) and the Cross Border Initiative of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), resulted in the execution of search warrants at 15 locations in Methuen and Lawrence and the arrests of 11 individuals suspected of various drug- and weapons-related crimes. 

During the takedown, troopers, officers, and agents seized approximately 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 193 grams of cocaine, 225 grams of methamphetamine, 206 grams of pills, 30 grams of crack cocaine, two large-capacity firearms, and one magazine containing 15 rounds of ammunition, as well as additional ammunition.

“Operation Crazy Train” was an 11-month long investigation, which began into a group of individuals who were believed to be trafficking narcotics including fentanyl, cocaine, and crystal methamphetamine out of multiple apartments at a residential apartment building in Methuen. An undercover trooper was introduced to the trafficking operation in November 2023 and subsequently made 26 controlled purchases of narcotics from multiple individuals. Over the course of the investigation, troopers seized an additional 613 grams of fentanyl and 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

Between May 2024 and October 2024, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and MSP were granted authorization to intercept seven target individuals’ cellphones via wiretap. Through the course of the four-month long wiretap investigation, the AGO and MSP obtained substantial evidence that the initial target drug trafficking organization was supplying narcotics to numerous customers and identified a source of the narcotics supply to be an individual named Yasil DeLossantos. The AGO and MSP were granted authorization to wiretap the cell phones of DeLossantos and three other individuals. All of these individuals, including DeLossantos, were confirmed to have supplied narcotics to other drug trafficking operations with their own customer bases.

Through the course of the investigation, the AGO and MSP received authorization for well over 100 search warrants. Based on evidence obtained through the wiretap intercepts, controlled purchases of narcotics, physical surveillance, static surveillance cameras, cell phone location data, and GPS tracking devices on multiple vehicles, on October 1, 2024, the AGO and MSP submitted an affidavit in Lawrence Superior Court supporting search warrants at 15 target locations in Methuen and Lawrence. In addition to those locations, the AGO and MSP also received authorization for search warrants for 13 individuals, three vehicles, and to seize and forensically examine five target cellphones.

The execution of those search warrants took place simultaneously with more than 200 members of law enforcement from MSP, DEA, and local police departments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The following individuals were arrested and arraigned in Lawrence District Court on October 4, 2024:

1. Alexander Franco Melo, age 23, of Methuen, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (220g or more), Trafficking Cocaine (100g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (18g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (36g or more), Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm without FID Card, Possession of Ammunition, Four Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), Three Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (18g or more), Three Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (36g or more)
   2. Bail set: $500,000

2. Edwin Arias Melo, age 24, of Methuen, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (36g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), Possession Class B with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking Cocaine (36g or more), Distribution of Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Distribution of Methamphetamine
   2. Bail set: $100,000

3. Angel Luis Medina Melo, age 31, of Lawrence, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Five Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), Three Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (18g or more), Four Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (36g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (18g or more), Trafficking Cocaine (36g or more), Distribution of Cocaine
   2. Bail set: $100,000

4. Lauris Mercado Victoria, age 29, of Methuen, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Trafficking Cocaine (36 or more), Possession of Firearm without FID Card, Possession of Ammunition, Possession of Large Capacity Firearm
   2. Bail set: $25,000

5. Cristian Gonzalez Cosme, age 50, of Methuen, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (36g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (18g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Two Counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Trafficking Cocaine (36g or more)
   2. Bail set: $50,000

6. Angel Franco Romero, age 48, of Methuen, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Two Counts of Trafficking Fentanyl (36g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (18g or more), Trafficking Cocaine (36g or more)
   2. Bail set: $75,000

7. Luis Arias Mateo, age 30, of Methuen, MA
   1. Possession of Firearm without FID Card, Possession of Large Capacity Firearm, Improper Storage of a Firearm, Improper Storage of a Firearm Near Minor
   2. Bail set: $20,000

8. Yasil DeLossantos, age 33, of Lawrence, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl
   2. Bail set: $100,000

9. Santo Marte-Aybar, age 34, of Lawrence, MA
   1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), Trafficking Cocaine (18g or more)
   2. Bail set: $25,000

10. Franklin Avalo, age 34, of Lawrence, MA
    1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Trafficking Fentanyl (18g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (200g or more), Trafficking Methamphetamine (100g or more), Trafficking Cocaine (36g or more), Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
    2. Bail set: $100,000

11. Julio Baez, age 32, of Lawrence, MA 
    1. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (200g or more), Possession of Large Capacity Feeding Device, Possession of Ammunition
    2. Bail set: $50,000

The next court date for these individuals is scheduled for November 4, 2024, for a probable cause hearing in Lawrence District Court.

An arrest warrant is outstanding for a 12th individual, Guerin Lara Vizcaino, age 25, of Lawrence, MA for Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Trafficking Fentanyl (10g or more), and Trafficking Cocaine (18g or more). 

All of these charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

This case was handled by Managing Attorney Gretchen Brodigan of EMCD, with assistance from Deputy Chief Stacey Pichardo of the AGO’s Criminal Bureau, Division Chief Christina Pujals Ronan and Senior Intelligence Analyst Jill Bodreau, both of EMCD, MSP CINRET-North Intelligence Analyst Timothy Morway, and the AGO Digital Evidence Laboratory. 

The Rockingham County New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department, the Epping New Hampshire Police Department, and the Lynn Police Department also provided valuable support to this investigation.

Original source can be found here.