Merrimack Valley

Methuen man arrested after drug probe

By Jim Patten
jpatten@eagletribune.com
Published: November 20, 2008

METHUEN — A joint investigation by local and state police resulted in the arrest of a 36-year-old man and the seizure of a quantity of heroin and cocaine, police said.

Jose Torres, of 365 Lowell St., was pulled over as he drove his 1998 Dodge Durango on Haverhill Street a short distance from his home Tuesday afternoon.

Torres consented to a search of the Durango with a drug detecting police dog which turned up no drugs.

Detectives from Methuen and Lawrence police and state troopers from the Essex County Drug Task Force then served a search warrant at Torres' home where they found a plastic bag holding three smaller plastic bags. Two of the bags containing about 21 grams of powder cocaine and the third held about 9.4 grams of heroin in the garage.

Also seized in the raid were a bottle of Inositol, a cutting agent mixed with the cocaine, a digital scale, 14 unknown pills, and packaging materials. Torres was charged with trafficking cocaine 14 grams or over, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.