(Photograph courtesy of Massachusetts State Police.)
An investigation into a large-scale methamphetamine distribution operation led local and State Police to a Lawrence home and a North Andover driving school where “a significant quantity” of narcotics were sized.
In a statement this week, State Police said 56-year-old Michael Larocque of Lawrence, was arrested Friday at his home and booked at the State Police Barracks in Newbury. He was charged with two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine of more than 200 grams. Larocque, owner of North Andover Auto School, was arraigned before Judge Michael Uhlarik in Lawrence District Court Monday and ordered held on $250,000 cash bail and ordered to surrender his passport and remain substance free. His next court hearing is Oct. 19.
A team found and seized approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, vials of an unknown liquid and paraphernalia related to narcotics distribution at Larocque’s home. State Police added, a search of a vehicle there resulted in seizure of additional methamphetamine and, at the auto school, an additional 400 grams of methamphetamine, pills and approximately $12,000 was discovered.
Police said the investigation launched about two months ago when information shared with State Police by their New Hampshire counterparts, identifying Larocque as a high-volume methamphetamine distributor. The investigation included multiple controlled purchases of the drug from both Larocque’s Colonial Road home and the North Andover Auto School, 203 Turnpike St., North Andover.
The investigation was conducted by troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team’s north unit, Office of the Attorney General, Massachusetts State Police Technical Services and Crime Scene Services Sections, troopers from New Hampshire State Police, agents from federal Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration and Lawrence and North Andover Police.