Two Alleged Drug Dealers Arrested

Woburn Police arrested two Lawrence men who they said were selling cocaine on Friday.

Police arrested Jose L. Vega, 24, 6 Haverhill St., Apt. 32, Lawrence, and Luis Jose Rodriguez, 25, 69 Berkley St., Apt., 3, Lawrence, and charged them with two drug violations near a school/park, possessing a Class B drug to distribute (cocaine) and conspiracy to violate drug law.

The Woburn Police Department Drug Unit and Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force have been conducting narcotics investigations into a Lawrence-based drug ring that was selling heroin and cocaine. There were sales and “distribution operations” in Woburn and other surrounding towns, according to Woburn Police.

Woburn has experienced an upsurge in heroin and opioid abuse. There have been 27 overdoses this year so far in Woburn, including 19 involving heroin, and five overdose deaths, according to police.

At about 7:30 p.m. Friday, undercover officers were informed that a vehicle involved in drug dealing was in Woburn. They followed it, observed the occupants’ actions, including stops at Woburn locations, and pulled them over the vehicle on Green Street. There was an open pill container reportedly on Vega’s lap and police found cocaine in the center console.

Police also confiscated more than $1,200 from the men.