Two people are facing serious charges after Tewksbury Police made a major drug bust.
Hilda Gandia, 42 of Lawrence, and Agustin Antonio Tejeda Ruis, 45 of Tewksbury, were arraigned on Monday after they were arrested in Tewksbury allegedly in possession of 30 kilograms of fentanyl. Police said fentanyl is a drug that is more potent than heroin.
On Friday, as part of an ongoing investigation, the Tewksbury Police Department executed a search warrant on a residence allegedly used and controlled by Gandia and Ruis. During the search, they allegedly found Ruis inside with several bricks of off-white powder suspected to be narcotics and approximately $21,000 in cash.
A kilo press, typically used to manufacture bricks of narcotics, a scale and packaging materials were also found.
Police said large quantities of the suspected narcotics were found in Ruis’ bedroom and concealed inside hidden compartments located within two pieces of furniture.
Gandia was arraigned on charges of conspiracy to traffic heroin, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. She was held on $7.5 million surety/$750,000 cash bail. Her next hearing date is Feb. 9.
Ruis was arraigned on conspiracy to traffic heroin, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, uttering a forged document, and identity fraud. He was held on $10 million surety/$1 million bail. His next hearing date is set for Feb. 9.
The drugs have a street value of more than $3 million.
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