SHREWSBURY — In a series of coordinated drug raids, Shrewsbury Police Department detectives have seized 264 grams of crack cocaine and more than $12,000 in cash, significantly disrupting local narcotics distribution networks.
During the first operation on Jan. 27 at 9:54 a.m., detectives and officers executed a search warrant at a residential property and on a white 2008 Ford Explorer at 23 Howe Avenue.
The primary suspect, Luke Warner, was apprehended while seated in the vehicle inside the garage.
Investigators discovered the crack cocaine stash, which was more than 14 times the trafficking threshold of 18 grams for a Class B substance in Massachusetts.
Alongside the narcotics, authorities confiscated $2,920, a scale, and numerous drug paraphernalia items.
Warner was arrested on the spot.
A subsequent search on Jan. 31 at a TD Bank safety deposit box registered to Warner yielded an additional $9,250 in cash and a collection of stolen jewelry.
The third warrant, executed on Feb. 5 at a Cube Smart storage unit owned by Warner, resulted in the recovery of more suspected stolen jewelry.
Massachusetts law, under MGL 94C/ Section 47, Forfeitures Under the Controlled Substance Act of 1971, supports the seizure of funds tied directly to drug distribution activities, which framed the legal basis for the confiscation of the cash discovered during these operations.
Warner, a 56-year-old Shrewsbury resident, now faces charges including cocaine trafficking of 200 grams or more, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a Class B substance for subsequent offense.
