Police seized two cell phones, 53 grams of heroin, with a street value of $5,000, a twist of marijuana and $1,767 in cash.
By Gayla Cawley
LYNN — Police seized 98 bags of heroin on Tuesday, and arrested two people involved in an alleged drug transaction.
Lynn Police officers from the Drug Task Force were conducting surveillance when they noticed a man, Alejandro Rodriguez, get into the passenger side of a vehicle parked on Woodman Street near Fuller Street. The car took a short ride up the street, staying on Woodman and parking near Cottage Street, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.
After the car parked, Rodriguez, 22, of Lynn, got out of the car and walked away. One detective went to talk with him, while another officer followed the car as it drove away, according to Donnelly. Police pulled over the car on Cottage Street near Boston Street. Police said the female driver, Marilyn Rubbico, was nervous and fidgeting, and was additionally seen throwing two twists of heroin out of the window, according to Donnelly.
At that point, Rubbico, 45, of Lynnfield, was arrested and charged with heroin possession. Donnelly said the officer also noticed her cell phone in the car light up with a text regarding a drug transaction on Woodman Street.
Based on the detective’s initial conversation with Rodriguez, he wasn’t going to arrest him, but based on the texts about the drug deal and the heroin thrown out the window, he was taken into custody. Rodriguez had car keys on him and the detective was able to locate his truck after pressing the button on them, which was parked a short distance away, Donnelly said.
In the truck, police found 96 twists of heroin. Along with the drugs Rubbico threw out her window, 98 bags of heroin were seized, or 53 grams, with a street value of $5,000. Police found $1,767 in cash in the truck, which was also seized. Police also took possession of two cell phones, belonging to Rodriguez and Rubbico, Donnelly said.
Rodriguez was charged with heroin trafficking, heroin possession with intent to distribute and a drug violation near a school, as Drewicz Elementary School is nearby.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.