Tewksbury police arrest two people on drug charges following hotel raid

TEWKSBURY – Chief Ryan Columbus announced that Tewksbury Police arrested two people on drug charges Friday.

Julio Rivera, 35, of Lawrence, is charged with possession of a Class A drug (subsequent offense), while Kara Waugh, 31, also of Lawrence, was charged with possession of a Class A drug and a Class B drug.

On April 12, at approximately 3:21 a.m., officers responded to a call at the Marriott Residence Inn on Andover Street.

During their investigation, they discovered drugs and paraphernalia in a room.

It was also revealed that Waugh had several outstanding warrants for his arrest for drug and theft offences.

Both Waugh and Rivera were taken into custody without incident.

Following their arrest, Waugh and Rivera appeared in Lowell District Court on Friday for arraignment.

Later that afternoon, a search warrant at the hotel room resulted in the seizure of additional substances, suspected to be cocaine and fentanyl, as well as items consistent with the distribution and sale of drugs.

Given the results of the search, Tewksbury Police are preparing to issue arrest warrants against Waugh and Rivera for trafficking in fentanyl (more than 100 grams) and trafficking in cocaine (more than 36 grams).