HAVERHILL — A Lawrence man faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in state prison if convicted of charges stemming from a drug bust yesterday.
Marcelo Perez, 48, of 210 Lawrence St., was charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine, two counts of unlawful possession of a handgun, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a dangerous weapon.
"At the time of his arrest, he was armed with a loaded .38-caliber Derringer pistol and 30.5 grams of cocaine in his jacket along with $87," Haverhill police Detective Sgt. John Arahovites said.
Perez was caught making a drug delivery during an investigation that focused on the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot at 765 Main St. Investigators from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the Cross Border Initiative and Tewksbury police joined the Haverhill police narcotics unit.
With the assistance of the Tewksbury K9 unit, police discovered a hidden compartment in the back floor of Perez's Jeep Cherokee, Arahovites said. Police seized an additional 30.7 grams of cocaine, crack cocaine, a loaded Jennings .25-caliber handgun, a box of ammunition, a martial arts sword and a digital scale.
Police estimated the street value of the cocaine at $6,500. Perez was being held without bail last night at the Haverhill police station and is due to be arraigned today in Haverhill District Court.
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