BOSTON — Miguel Angel Martinez Lugo, 38, a Dominican national living in Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on March 6.
On April 4, 2024, law enforcement officers observed a suspicious exchange between a black Acura MDX and a Chevrolet pickup truck in Salem, Massachusetts. The vehicles were tracked as they moved through multiple streets. Officers saw Martinez Lugo and an accomplice transfer heavy-duty plastic storage bins between the vehicles.
Upon further investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the Acura, leading to the discovery of 70 kilograms of cocaine inside three bins. The drugs were packaged for distribution, indicating a large-scale trafficking operation. Authorities also found three cellphones and other related items in the vehicle.
Martinez Lugo, who was operating under multiple aliases, was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. After serving his sentence, he will be deported to the Dominican Republic.