Andover Police Arrest 3 New York Men with 2 Kilograms of Cocaine

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Andover Police Arrest 3 New York Men with 2 Kilograms of Cocaine

Drug Investigation Nets $80,000 Worth of Drugs

ANDOVER —  Police Chief Patrick Keefe reports that Andover Police Officers and Detectives arrested three men who were believed to be part of a major drug trafficking operation.

Andover Police Detectives, assigned to the Andover Police Department Substance Abuse Unit were conducting surveillance of a gas station on River Road last night when they noticed three suspicious men come and go from two vehicles. 

The drivers exited the vehicles and began talking to each other. Detectives approached to talk to them. At that time, the man who stayed in the second vehicle fled in that vehicle out of the parking lot. Uniformed Andover Police Patrol Officers quickly stopped the fleeing vehicle and placed the driver in custody. There, in plain view, officers observed white powdery substance consistent with cocaine or another drug.

The suspects were placed in custody and and detectives soon located two large packages of white powder wrapped in plastic. The substance later tested positive for cocaine. Two kilograms, with an approximate street value of $80,000, were seized.

All three men were arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws. They are:

• ROBERTO REYES, AGE 49, OF BRONX, NEW YORK
  
• EDWARD TEJEDA, AGE 31, OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
• HECTOR MOQUEA, AGE 31, OF BRONX, NEW YORK

Additionally, TEJADA was charged with Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Operating to Endanger.

Detectives also found masks, cutting agents, and other drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Chief Keefe praised the diligent work of the detectives and uniformed patrol personnel.

“Drugs abuse is one of the great evils in society, and we will not tolerate the trafficking of illegal drugs through our community,” Chief Keefe said. “Our Andover Police Detectives did an excellent job in exercising patience and diligence to take three drug traffickers off the street and remove a large quantity of cocaine from potentially hitting the streets.”

The suspects were held without bail pending arraignment in Lawrence District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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