Crime & Safety

Police: Local Produce Warehouse Had $500K of Cocaine Hidden in Boxes

Miguel Betances, 60, and Francisco Gonzalez, 50, were charged with drug trafficking in Lawrence.

Police said a local produce warehouse was storing more than just fruits and vegetables.

State Police said they found $500,000 worth of cocaine in a Lawrence produce warehouse during a sting operation Sunday.

The warehouse owner, Miguel Betances, 60, was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Police also arrested Francisco Gonzalez, 50.

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Authorities said they seized 11 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the cardboard packaging of produce boxes.

Police said they had intelligence that a huge quantity of drugs was being shipped from the Dominican Republic to Lawrence.

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On Saturday, a task force of federal, state, and local officers set up surveillance of the warehouse, located at 1 Broadway St. in Lawrence.

On Sunday morning, police said they saw Betances and Gonzalez load items into a sport utility vehicle. Cruisers pulled over the SUV and said they found a bunch of packets hidden in two produce boxes.

They went back to the warehouse with a warrant and said they found 600 more boxes with cocaine.


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