An alleged fentanyl trafficker arrested in Tewksbury is now dealing with not solely prison prices, however potential deportation.
Dany Mejia Gomez, 18, of Lynn and a citizen of Honduras, was arrested on Wednesday after the Tewksbury Police allegedly discovered greater than 140 grams of fentanyl throughout a narcotics investigation. Police stated he was additionally discovered to be within the nation illegally, prompting notification to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mejia Gomez was arrested as a part of an ongoing investigation into drug distribution in Middlesex County, in line with a police incident report. The Tewksbury Police Division’s Narcotics Unit was working alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cross Border Initiative Job Drive 4, below the umbrella of the “Sinaloa Surge Operation.”
As a part of the investigation, a detective working undercover contacted a Fb account believed to be concerned in drug gross sales and organized to purchase 20 grams of fentanyl for $150. The deal was set to happen within the lavatory of a enterprise on Most important Avenue. Surveillance groups positioned inside and out of doors the shop moved in after the alleged deal, taking Mejia Gomez into custody.
Police searched a Toyota Corolla linked to Mejia Gomez and located a big bag containing a number of smaller baggies of a brown powder believed to be fentanyl. Additionally they allegedly found within the automotive money and a cellphone except for the one he was carrying on his individual on the time of his arrest.
The 2 iPhones had been seized pending a search warrant, the incident report states. Police processed the proof, which they stated included 21.3 grams of suspected fentanyl from the undercover purchase and an extra 121.1 grams discovered within the car. A subject check allegedly yielded a presumptive constructive check for fentanyl. Police additionally seized $1,330 in money, together with the $150 in marked purchase cash.
In line with police, whereas in custody, Mejia Gomez informed authorities he was within the means of making use of for U.S. citizenship and had come to the nation from Honduras as a baby looking for asylum. An ICE agent was contacted and confirmed Mejia Gomez was within the nation illegally and stated an immigration detainer can be issued.
In line with Lowell District Courtroom paperwork, the Division of Homeland Safety formally positioned the detainer, citing possible trigger that Mejia Gomez is topic to elimination below federal immigration legislation. The detainer requests that native authorities maintain him for as much as 48 hours past his scheduled launch so ICE can take custody.
A spokesperson for ICE was not instantly obtainable for remark concerning the method.
The Tewksbury Police informed The Solar on Friday that whereas the division doesn’t routinely examine immigration standing, they might notify ICE in the event that they study throughout an investigation that an individual is within the nation illegally — significantly in instances involving main felonies.
Mejia Gomez is being held with out bail on the Middlesex Jail & Home of Correction in Billerica pending arraignment in Lowell District Courtroom on a cost of trafficking greater than 100 grams of fentanyl. He’s awaiting court-appointed counsel amid a scarcity of bar advocates because of an ongoing walkout over stagnant pay and is scheduled to return to courtroom for a standing listening to on Tuesday.
Comply with Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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