21 arrested in Massachusetts large-scale drug trafficking and firearms operation after 32 search warrants executed

Officials have confirmed that 21 individuals were arrested in Massachusetts communities in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking and firearms operation. The arrests were made at multiple locations early Tuesday morning as a result of a multi-agency investigation that took place over several years.

As a result of the 32 search warrants executed Tuesday, police seized 11 guns, hundreds of grams of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and Xanax and over $100,000.

According to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Lowell Police Superintendent Barry Golner, Massachusetts State Police Colonel Christopher Mason and Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, since 2019, the Lowell Police Department in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies conducted multiple undercover purchases of narcotics and identified several individuals suspected of being involved in a large-scale drug supply chain ranging from sellers in bulk to street level distributors. That investigation continued for the purpose of identifying the source of and storage locations for the drugs.

In October 2022, a Middlesex Superior Court Justice issued a wiretap warrant authorizing the interception of electronic communications relating to drug trafficking. Over the course of the investigation, police and prosecutors gathered evidence that Hector Arriaga, 33 of Lowell was allegedly leading and operating a drug trafficking enterprise, self-named the “Cocaine Cowboys.” The operation is alleged to have included dispatching runners to purchase drugs, cutting and packaging those drugs for resale and taking and filling orders from customers.

This investigation was conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Lowell Police, Massachusetts State Police, the Drug Enforcement Agency, New England Field Division, Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, and Massachusetts State Police Detectives Assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Other law enforcement agencies that assisted with the investigation and arrests today include: and the Massachusetts National Guard, Rockingham County New Hampshire Sheriff’s Office, New Hampshire State Police and Kingston New Hampshire Police Department, Lakeland Florida Police Department, Polk County Florida Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Tampa Florida Office, Tyngsboro Police, Tewksbury Police, Lawrence Police, Chelmsford Police, Methuen Police, Massachusetts State Police Assigned to the Essex District Attorney’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team – North and South, Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team, Crime Scene Services, Bomb Unit, Stop Team, Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and the Crisis Negotiation Team. Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, Southeastern Law Enforcement Council, Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council.

The individuals charged as a result of this investigation include:

Hector Arriaga, 32 of Lowell – Trafficking Fentanyl over 10 Grams (three counts), Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams, Trafficking Fentanyl over 200 grams (two counts), Trafficking in Firearms, Distribution of a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine, two counts), Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams (two counts), Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy to: Traffic in Fentanyl over 200 grams, Traffic in Cocaine over 200 grams, Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Distribute a Class A Controlled Substance (fentanyl), Conspiracy to: Traffic in Firearms.

Angel Castro Penaloza, 26 of Lowell – Distribution of a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine over 100 grams and to Distribute a Class A Controlled Substance (fentanyl), Trafficking Fentanyl over 200 grams, Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams.

Zachary LaPorte, 27 of Winter Haven, FL – Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams, Conspiracy to: Traffic Cocaine over 200 grams and to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine)

Rafael Mejias, 24 of Lowell -Trafficking Fentanyl over 10 grams, Trafficking Fentanyl over 18 grams, Trafficking Cocaine over 36 grams, Conspiracy to: Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Traffic over 200 grams of cocaine

Ruben Torres, 22 of Lawrence – Trafficking Cocaine over 100 grams, Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams, Trafficking Cocaine over 18 grams, Distribution of a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine).

Anthony Flores, 29 of Tyngsboro – Trafficking Fentanyl over 200 grams, Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine over 200 grams.

John Miller, 29 of Lowell – Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams.

Randall Tremblay, 31 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine)

Jason Pais, 31 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine over 100 grams, Trafficking in Firearms, Trafficking a Large Capacity Feeding Device, Distribution of a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Carrying a Firearm, Carrying a Shotgun, Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, Possession of Ammunition, Trafficking Cocaine over 36 grams.

Wanda Quinones, 54 of Kingston, NH – Trafficking Cocaine over 100 grams, Trafficking Fentanyl over 36 grams, Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Controlled Substances (cocaine, oxycodone, methadone, Suboxone), Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine over 100 grams

Jesse Morales Martinez, 27 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine over 200 grams, Trafficking Cocaine over 18 grams.

Benyalis Mejias, 22 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Traffic over 200 grams of cocaine.

Roberto Lopez, 32 of Lowell – Distribution of a Class B Controlled substance (cocaine), Trafficking in Fentanyl over 10 grams, Conspiracy to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine).

David Sandoval, 31 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams, Trafficking Fentanyl over 100 grams.

Isaiah Colon, 20 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Possession of a Firearm.

Davis Ngoun, 22 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine) and to Traffic Cocaine over 100 grams, Distribution of a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Controlled Substance (fentanyl)

Juan Troncoso, 19 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Distribute a Class B Controlled Substance (cocaine).

Junior Frett, 39 of Lowell – Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine over 100 grams, Possession of a Firearm.

Raynel Hilario, 35 of Methuen – Trafficking Cocaine over 200 grams. Was arraigned Tuesday in Lawrence District Court

Betsy Martinez, 46 of Lowell –Trafficking Cocaine over 100 grams.

Guelmin Manon, 35 of Lawrence – Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance (cocaine), Possession of Ammunition.

This is an ongoing investigation and evidence is still being processed. Additional charges are possible.

The prosecutors assigned to this case are Whitney Williams and Andrew Ineson.