By Curt Brown The Standard-Times

Monday

Aug 20, 2018 at 4:17 PM


A North Dartmouth woman and a Weymouth man were arrested Saturday and charged in connection with drug trafficking activities involving the shipments of multiple kilograms of cocaine sent through the mail, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

BOSTON — A North Dartmouth woman and a Weymouth man were arrested Saturday and charged in connection with drug trafficking activities involving the shipments of multiple kilograms of cocaine sent through the mail, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Cristina Lopez, 43, of North Dartmouth, and John Tavares, 31, of Weymouth, were charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.

According to court documents, more than 40 parcels that had been sent via the U.S. mail from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Massachusetts, including residences in Quincy, North Dartmouth, Weymouth and New Bedford, were identified as suspicious, federal authorities said.

The parcels were often sent on the same day from Puerto Rico to two or more different addresses in Massachusetts, according to the news release. It is alleged that when federal agents executed search warrants on two of the parcels, they seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine hidden in sealed coffee cans.

Through surveillance, agents allegedly determined that Lopez and Tavares were receiving the majority of the parcels, federal prosecutors said. Agents also determined that Lopez and Tavares had been regularly flying from Massachusetts to Puerto Rico for trips lasting only 30 to 72 hours, and that the parcels suspected of containing cocaine were then typically sent to Massachusetts within one to three days after their return.

Court documents also reflect that Tavares has previously been convicted of various firearms and drug-related offenses, the news release said.

The Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Dartmouth and Boston police departments assisted with the investigation.