Gloucester Police arrest two in drug bust

News Release, Aug. 16, 2023

Gloucester Police have arrested two men and charged them with drug trafficking, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Gloucester Police Chief Edward Conley announced Wednesday.

David Garcia, 21, of Lynn and Wilving Lopez, 22, of Peabody were each charged with trafficking in fentanyl (more than 10 grams) and trafficking in cocaine (36 grams or more), both felonies.

Garcia also was charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, for allegedly struggling with a Gloucester police officer.

Gloucester Police received information about the supply of illicit drugs into the city. On Tuesday afternoon, they approached a car they believed to be delivering drugs.

The driver, later identified as Garcia, confronted authorities when they ordered him to exit the vehicle. The front-seat passenger, later identified as Lopez, was seen tossing a bag when he exited the vehicle. Witnesses said a third man was seen exiting the vehicle but police were unable to locate him.

A subsequent search located the bag, which was determined to contain drugs, while a search of the vehicle located drugs in seat backs and concealed in a can of leather cleaner with a false bottom.

In all, authorities located 27 baggies of suspected fentanyl, 38 baggies of suspected crack cocaine and two rolls of cash totaling nearly $1,400.

Garcia and Lopez were arraigned Wednesday in Peabody District Court and ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. They were represented by attorney Kristen McLaughlin of Danvers.

The case remains under investigation by the Gloucester Police Department.