LOWELL, Mass. - Vice detectives took about 800 grams of cocaine off city streets and seized two cars in a pair of large drug busts prompted by surveillance operations in the Back Central neighborhood.
The first bust was the largest in the region since last year, and saw Lowell Police seize nearly 700 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of at least $18,000.
That bust started when vice detectives, including Detective Thomas Lafferty, responded to complaints and conducted surveillance in the area of Pollard and Chapel streets.
Lt. James Hodgdon said detectives saw two people in a Lexus that they had been watching for, and had a marked K9 unit stop the car on Elm Street Friday about 9 p.m.
Edwin Barroso-Rivera, 37, of Lawrence, was driving that car, and Alexandra Davis-Mazara, 27, of Lawrence, was in the passenger seat, said Hodgdon.
While searching the car, Officer Todd Donaldson and his police dog got a 'hit' on the vehicle's rear seat, and Donaldson soon found 25 bags of cocaine, which held about
700 grams, under the seat, Hodgdon said.
He said the street value for the drugs was an estimate based on the form it was in when seized.
"It was ready for distribution," Hodgdon said. "It could be worth triple that if it was cut."
Police also seized cash, scales and the Lexus as they charged Barroso-Rivera and Alexandra Davis-Mazara each with trafficking cocaine (over 200 grams), conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in a school zone.
Barroso-Rivera was also charged with giving a false name to police and having an altered driver's license.
If convicted of the trafficking charge, both face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.
The bust was the largest in the region since a May 2006 bust in which vice detectives seized about 500 grams of uncut cocaine that was valued at about $30,000.
That cocaine was worth more because of its purity.
Detectives didn't stop there.
On Saturday night, they staked out an area on Back Central Street, and Detective Christal Downs saw a hand-to-hand drug deal go down.
Downs and Detective Raymond Cormier then followed the Toyota Camry the man was in to Bridge Street, where it was stopped near the bridge.
Hodgdon said a subsequent searched turned about 88 grams of cocaine in a drug hide in that car, which was driven by Jose Torres-Colon, 31, of 393 Wilder St., Unit 11.
Torres-Colon was charged with trafficking cocaine (28-100 grams).
Davis-Mazzara and Rivera-Barroso were each held on $100,000 cash bail. Torres-Colon was held on $25,000 cash bail.
All three are to be arraigned tomorrow in Lowell District Court.
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