PEABODY — An investigation into drug sales on the North Shore resulted in the arrest of a Caller Street man on trafficking charges Wednesday and the seizure of $35,000 in heroin and $22,000 in cash, police say.
Raul Sanchez, 29, of 21 Caller St., Peabody, was arrested on charges of two counts of trafficking heroin after police conducted a drug transaction with him in the Lynn Street area around 12:30 p.m., according to a press release from Capt. Dennis Bonaiuto.
Subsequent to the transaction, police learned that a 3-year-old child was inside the car with Sanchez at the time, Bonaiuto said.
The transaction was the latest in a number of heroin purchases made during a multi-jurisdictional investigation into Sanchez that began when the Drug Enforcement Agency office in Portland, Maine, offered information to local police about drug sales in Peabody and the greater North Shore area, Bonaiuto said.
After Sanchez’s arrest, police searched two apartments and two vehicles linked to him and seized about 220 grams of heroin with an approximate value of $35,000, 30 grams of cocaine with a value of $4,000 and $22,000 in cash, along with the two vehicles.
Police dogs helped uncover a “sophisticated” hiding spot in one of the vehicles during the searches, Bonaiuto said.
“Also seized was paraphernalia associated with the packaging and sale of illegal narcotics,” he said.
In addition to patrol officers and the narcotics unit from Peabody, the investigation involved DEA Task Force 2 from Boston; the DEA from Portland, Maine; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Salem police; and K-9 units from Saugus, Everett, Wilmington and Burlington.
Sanchez was arraigned in Peabody District Court yesterday and was being held on an ICE detainer in addition to $10,000 cash bail, Bonaiuto said.
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
