A 29-year-old Peabody man is facing multiple drug charges after a joint investigation by Peabody Police and the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force led to the seizure of approximately 4,000 pressed fentanyl pills.
Police arrested Missael Disla on Aug. 28 at approximately 4:21 p.m. on 57 Tremont St. in Peabody. According to police logs, he had three active warrants out for his arrest for trafficking 200 grams or more of heroin, morphine, or opium.
Detective Lt. David Bonfanti said officers set up surveillance outside 57 Tremont St. and described Disla’s home property as a shed that had been converted into a small living space.
Bonfanti said investigators watched as Disla entered and exited the unit, waiting until he stepped outside to approach him.
A taxi had reportedly arrived to pick him up when officers made the arrest. Disla complied without resistance, Bonfanti said.
During a search incidental to arrest, officers found approximately 1,000 pressed fentanyl pills in his pocket. He was booked at the Peabody Police station on his outstanding warrants.
Sgt. David Bettencourt then drafted a request for a search warrant for the shed where Disla was living. After a judge approved it, inside, investigators recovered an additional 3,000 fentanyl pills, bringing the total to nearly 4,000 pills weighing approximately 294.5 grams.
“This was clearly a trafficking weight,” Bonfanti said, noting that Disla had a prior warrant for drug trafficking.
During the search and arrest, detectives recovered thousands of fentanyl pills and thousands of dollars.
According to the CDC, fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths.
Disla was scheduled to be arraigned in Peabody District Court on Aug. 29, but his arraignment date was moved to Sept. 4.
At the arraignment, Disla was charged with trafficking in 200 grams or more of fentanyl. Appearing before the Hon. SallyAnn Janulevicus, Disla pleaded not guilty to the charge and was ordered held without bail on dangerousness.
Disla will return to court Oct. 3 for a probable cause hearing.
“We appreciate the community sharing any information about suspicious activity,” Bonfanti said. “Tips from neighbors help us get more of these dangerous drugs off the street.”
