A massive drug bust in Franklin, New Hampshire, carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, led to the arrests of 27 people and the seizure of approximately $100,000 in cash along with drugs linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
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“The Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico has a strong hold on drug distribution in New England and this week’s enforcement action attacked their street level distribution network,” said New England Field Division DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget.
The DEA began investigating the Franklin area after receiving tips about drug trafficking operations supported by the Sinaloa Cartel, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
After the initial report, the DEA and the Franklin Police Department conducted surveillance over the course of two months to obtain the evidence necessary to strike a serious blow to the Sinaloa Cartel’s NH operations.
On the first day of the bust, DEA agents, along with Franklin Police officers, executed three search warrants, arrested 17 people, and seized $100,000 in cash, a firearm, and an unspecified quantity of fentanyl and methamphetamines.
The DEA believes that the drugs originated with the Sinaloa Cartel and made their way into Franklin, NH, from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
On the second day, law enforcement cleared a homeless encampment believed to be a site of drug trafficking and made ten arrests. The New Hampshire State Police, Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, Andover Police Department, Northfield Police Department, Salem Police Department K-9 unit, and Bristol Police Department all assisted with the second day’s operation.
“This case is an excellent example of how federal leadership and local cooperation can come together to protect communities like Franklin from the dangers of drug trafficking,” said Forget.
The DEA specified that some of the arrests were not related to drug trafficking but were nevertheless part of the operation.
Law enforcement is not releasing the names or charges for the individuals arrested, but the Franklin Police Department did release their pictures.
It is unclear why pictures could be released but names and charges could not.
