An illegal immigrant who operated a now “dismantled” fentanyl mill in Lawrence “faces deportation,” the Drug Enforcement Administration has announced.
DEA New England posted on social media Thursday that agents had taken down what they described as a fentanyl mill in Lawrence that contained “12 kilos of powdered fentanyl, 5-thousand fake fentanyl pills (and) 1-thousand fake Adderall pills.”
Agents also seized three handguns, DEA New England added in its post.
The agency did not provide any further information, including the nationality of the operator who it said is an “illegal individual who now faces deportation.” An investigation into the mill remains ongoing.
Massachusetts State Police assisted the DEA in responding to the fentanyl mill.
The Thursday social media post comes after agents with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston arrested an illegal Dominican national Santo Baez Baez last Friday for allegedly running a drug ring out of his apartment in Lawrence.
An undercover DEA agent helped break up the suspect’s fentanyl-and-cocaine ring, according to a federal affidavit. Drugs, a .357 Magnum, $7,885 in cash, and cellphones were confiscated during his arrest.
It is unclear if the dismantled fentanyl mill that DEA New England highlighted Thursday is connected to Baez Baez, who federal immigration officials said had previously been released and deported following an arrest on federal drug and firearm charges.
FBI Boston, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals all declared on social media last weekend they are “proud to cooperate” with immigration agents in grabbing illegal immigrant drug traffickers, gun runners, and human traffickers.
FBI Boston has continued to show solidarity this week with its law enforcement partners supporting ERO Boston and the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement operations.
The efforts across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are “part of our ongoing response to a declared national emergency,” FBI Boston posted on social media Wednesday.
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