Cocaine with a street value of $5.4 million was confiscated during a surge of drug sweeps last month in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Although the drug sweeps focused mainly on Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill and Lynn, a Kingston man was arrested on cocaine trafficking charges, Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett announced yesterday.
Local, state and federal authorities also arrested 156 suspects and confiscated 38 grams of heroin, 4 to 7 pounds of marijuana, five motor vehicles and six firearms.
"Where there are drugs, there are firearms and acts of violence," Blodgett said in a statement. "We will vigorously pursue and prosecute dealers who would sell drugs to our children, and will continue to work with every local, state and federal agency to ensure the safety of our citizens."
Of the 156 people arrested, 75 were charged with drug distribution or trafficking.
On Oct. 20 and 21 in an operation that spanned Haverhill and Southern New Hampshire, six men were arrested on cocaine trafficking and weapons charges.
Those arrested and their charges were:
Michael Marini, 34, 1 Kimberly Road, Kingston, New Hampshire warrants on charges of cocaine trafficking.
Efrain Crespo, 32, 131 Grove St., Haverhill, trafficking cocaine over 28 grams, possession of a firearm/ammunition, and on warrants for cocaine trafficking.
Hector Milette, 29, 34 Grand Ave., Haverhill, trafficking cocaine over 28 grams.
Eric Gonzalez, 30, 34 Grand Ave., Haverhill, trafficking cocaine over 28 grams, multiple warrants on charges of cocaine trafficking.
Alejandro Cruz, 55, 17 Loring St., Lawrence, trafficking cocaine over 28 grams, multiple warrants on charges of trafficking cocaine.
Joseph Hurley, 27, 94 Keeley St., Haverhill, multiple New Hampshire warrants on charges of cocaine trafficking and firearms charges.
