Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department arrested and charged two men with trafficking fentanyl.
GABERIAL ARIAS, AGE 30, of SAUGUS, was arrested and charged with:
- Trafficking over 100 grams of a Class A Substance
- Trafficking Fentanyl (Two Counts)
- Distribution of Fentanyl (Two Counts)
PATRICE DEBNAM, AGE 30, of LYNN, was arrested and charged with:
- Trafficking over 100 grams of a Class A Substance
On Monday, Sept 26, at approximately 11 a.m., members of the Winthrop Police Department and the Winthrop Criminal Investigative Unit, in collaboration with the Saugus and Everett Police Departments, executed search warrants for the residence, vehicle and person of ARIAS in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Officers located ARIAS at a Gulf Gas station in Winthrop, with another individual who was later identified as DEBNAM, in a white Toyota Corolla operated by DEBNAM.
While conducting a search of ARIAS, officers located over $500, drug paraphernalia and over 36 grams of what was determined to be fentanyl. A search of the vehicle occupied by DEBNAM and ARAIS led to the discovery of over 100 grams of fentanyl in bags in the vehicle’s glove box.
Both men were arrested without incident and taken to the Winthrop Police Station for booking.
Officers also conducted a search warrant on ARIAS’ residence in Saugus, where they located additional drug paraphernalia.
ARIAS was arraigned on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in East Boston District Court, and is being held on $50,000 bail.
DEBNAM was arraigned on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in East Boston District Court and is being held on $5,000 bail.
“I would like to thank Saugus Police and the Everett Police Departments for their assistance in this investigation,” said Chief Delehenty. “I would also like to commend our Criminal Investigative Unit for their work on this case. Fentanyl is an extremely harmful substance and I am proud of our department, as well as our partners for their help in keeping our community safe.”