The first search warrant was executed at 11 Broad St. in Lynn, where police found the illegal narcotics hidden in a dog crate with a pit bull inside. The pressed-fentanyl pills were secreted underneath the dog's bedding, State Police said.
The Broad Street apartment was the location of one of the investigation's targets, Andre Wesley, 34. Upon announcement of the warrant, the State Police Special Tactical Operations (STOP) Team, which undertakes high-risk entries, breached the exterior front-entry door and the door to Wesley's apartment. Inside the apartment, police also found Giselle Gonzalez Wesley, 28, a second target of the investigation who also lives at the residence, State Police said.
Both individuals were arrested on outstanding warrants and taken to the Lynn Police Department, where they were booked, State Police said.
Inside the Lynn apartment, authorities found and seized approximately 250 pressed-fentanyl pills, which weighed about 34 grams. The pills were found under the pit bull, who was friendly and removed by police officers. The dog, whose name is Kilo, was taken by Lynn Animal Control, and is now in the custody of North Shore Animal Hospital, State Police said.
While this warrant was executed in Lynn, State Police troopers and Salem Police officers were serving an arrest warrant at 3 Laurent Road in Salem, where the third target of the investigation, Joell Sosa, 24, resides. Sosa was found inside the apartment by members of the State Police STOP team and placed under arrest, police said.
While making the arrest, State Police troopers saw several pounds of marijuana, which were located in plain view in the Salem apartment. This led police to secure the residence, and obtain and execute a search warrant, State Police said.
Inside this apartment, police found a loaded Beretta 9mm firearm, a loaded Glock .45-caliber firearm, two 9mm magazines containing ammunition, 50 additional 9mm rounds, and approximately 160 grams of pressed pills that field-tested positive for a fentanyl-methamphetamine compound, State Police said.
This joint investigation, which was conducted under the direction of Attorney General Maura Healey, involved fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, and several controlled purchases from the three targets arrested on Wednesday. The purchases were made by an undercover State Police trooper, State Police said.
Healey's office is prosecuting the defendants. The investigation was conducted by the State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team's North Unit, along with troopers from Healey's office and the State Police Gang Unit, Lynn Police, and members of a DEA task force.
