JOSE JORGE VILLAR, 51, of METHUEN, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 1, on drug trafficking charges following a joint investigation by the Tewksbury, Billerica and Methuen Police Departments and Middlesex Sheriff’s Office. (Photo Courtesy Tewksbury Police Department)
TEWKSBURY — The Tewksbury, Billerica and Methuen Police Departments report that a Methuen man was arrested on drug trafficking charges following a joint investigation with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.
JOSE JORGE VILLAR, 51, of METHUEN, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 1, and charged with:
- Trafficking in 36 Grams or More of Fentanyl
- Trafficking in 18 Grams or More of Fentanyl
- Trafficking in 18 Grams or More of Cocaine
VILLAR was also arrested on a Lowell District Court warrant stemming from the investigation, charging him with three counts of Trafficking in More Than 10 Grams of Fentanyl.
The arrest followed a joint narcotics investigation that began in September into VILLAR’s alleged involvement in drug distribution in the Merrimack Valley.
Detectives arrested VILLAR Thursday morning at a hotel on Andover Street in Tewksbury.
During the Oct. 1 operation, police seized a total of approximately 101.8 grams of suspected fentanyl, 24.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine and nearly $18,973 in cash following searches of VILLAR’s vehicle and residence in Methuen. VILLAR’s vehicle was also seized.
VILLAR was arraigned Friday in Lowell District Court.
“I thank the Billerica and Methuen Police Departments and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office for their assistance throughout this investigation,” said Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan M. Columbus. “We appreciate the time and effort each agency contributed.”
“This investigation was a true collaborative effort between the Tewksbury, Billerica, and Methuen Police Departments,” said Methuen Police Acting Chief James Moore. “Investigations like this demonstrate the importance of agencies working together and sharing resources and information. Drug trafficking does not stop at municipal boundaries, and neither should our efforts to combat it.”
These are allegations. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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