LOWELL -- Two people are facing dozens of years in prison after their arrests in an investigation that led to the confiscation of nearly a half-kilo of cocaine and two handguns, and a charge that a woman gave her 10-year-old nephew a bag containing drugs and cash in an effort to hide it from police.
Detectives with Lowell's Special Investigations Unit were conducting a probe that led them to stop a Mitsubishi Endeavor near Chelmsford and Plain streets Saturday about 12:15 p.m.
Capt. Jonathan Webb said detectives, led by Lt. Barry Golner, found 472 grams of cocaine and a loaded, large-capacity, 9mm handgun in a mechanical "hide" inside the SUV. They arrested Freddie Morales-Lugo, 30, of 11 Grove St., Haverhill.
A short time later, as part of the same investigation, police were conducting surveillance on a house at 16 Barclay St., in Lowell, while detectives completed paperwork to obtain a search warrant for the property.
Webb said detectives watched Yina Gonzalez, 31, of 16 Barclay St., give a trash bag to a 10-year-old boy, later identified as her nephew, who then carried the bag off the property.
Detectives spoke to the boy and had a police dog smell the bag. Webb said the dog indicated that drugs were inside the bag, and a search of the bag turned up a small amount of cocaine, a digital scale and about $3,000 in cash.
Capt. Randall Humphrey, in a prepared statement, said police believe Gonzalez "sent her nephew with the items in the bag across the street to hide the evidence from police."
By about 5:30 p.m., detectives obtained a search warrant and found an even larger amount of cash hidden in a toilet at 16 Barclay St., according to Webb. Because the money was wet, it had not been counted yet.
Webb said police also found a .357 revolver in the home, along with dozens of rounds of .357 and 9mm ammunition.
Gonzalez was charged with trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine, trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine in a school zone, conspiracy to violate drug laws and distribution of cocaine to a minor.
Morales-Lugo was charged with trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine, trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine in a school zone, conspiracy to violate drug laws, unlawful possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, unlawful possession of a large-capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Morales-Lugo and Gonzalez are being held without bail and were scheduled to be arraigned today in Lowell District Court.
Webb and Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee praised the work of detectives involved in the case.
In a prepared statement, Lavallee said: "It's simply outrageous and a sad commentary on society that adults would allegedly use and ultimately abuse a child in their alleged secreting of illegal narcotics evidence. We will be working closely with the district attorney's office to ensure these individuals are prosecuted within the full extent of the law."
The state Department of Children and Families was contacted due to the child's involvement.
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