Crime & Safety

Hidden Compartment in Minivan Contained Heroin, Say Police

Police also found hypodermic needles and cash, according to a report.

Undercover police arrested two men after finding 11 bags of heroin in a hidden compartment built into a 2003 Dodge Caravan, according to allegations in a Somerville police report.

Police arrested Nicholas Cunha, 34, of Charlestown and Charles Ryan, 38, of Roxbury in connection to the incident, according to the report.

It says narcotics detectives, working under cover, were conducting surveillance in Winter Hill at around 3:20 p.m. on Nov. 27 when they saw Cunha and Ryan walking on Jaques Street and conducting what appeared to be a drug deal with someone in a car.

The two then got into another car, which made several stops in the neighborhood, the report says.

When police pulled over the car on Mystic Avenue, Ryan and Cunha, who were in a restaurant, saw the police and tried to flee on foot, according to the report.

They were ultimately caught, and police found several unused hypodermic needles and one filled hypodermic needle in Cunha's backpack, the report says.

It says police learned about the hidden compartment in the car and found 11 bags of heroin in it.

Also, Ryan had $968 in cash, and he discarded four mens watches in his attempt to flee, according to the report.

According to a police booking log, Cunha was charged with being present where heroin was kept and conspiracy to violate drug law, and Ryan was charged with drug possession, drug violation near a school and conspiracy to violate drug law.

According to a police booking log, Terry Smith, 34, of 312 Broadway, was also arrested on a warrant for driving with a suspended license.


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