29 arrested or sought in drug sweep

By RICK GREEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — Twenty-nine people have been arrested or are being sought, many on charges of dealing methamphetamine and other drugs, in a major police enforcement action that has been underway for months.

The effort, which included undercover officers and informants making drug purchases, was capped off with the arrest of seven people Thursday. Ten others were not at their last known place of residence and are wanted on criminal charges. A dozen others were arrested earlier.

Police Chief Matt Canfield said the action shows the police force's commitment to fight drug trafficking.

“This is certainly one of our largest drug sweeps in quite a while and represents a lot of work by detectives,” he said.

“We actively and aggressively pursue those that deal drugs in Laconia. This will take a bite out of drug dealing, but we are continuously working on that.”

Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil pose a major threat of overdose and are so potent that first-responders can be harmed if they come in contact with even very small amounts of these substances.

Canfield said his officers have responded to 74 drug overdoses this year in Laconia. Police treat overdose locations like crime scenes in hopes of finding dealers.

Investigators have also noticed frequent use of heroin, and methamphetamine, sometimes produced locally in small batches, appears to be making a comeback.

“Certainly there is a resurgence of meth,” Canfield said. “When you take meth, it brings you up and you won't sleep for days on end. Heroin then brings people down. A lot of times they are used in conjunction with each other.

“I would also venture to say that to a small extent the fear of taking carfentanil, which is so dangerous, has pushed people to meth as well.”

The New Hampshire attorney general's office monthly drug data update, released Wednesday, shows there have been at least 187 drug deaths statewide so far this year. Most of the fatalities involved the use of fentanyl. A city-by-city breakdown was not available.

The state ranks second nationally for per capita deaths due to drug overdose at 34.2 per 100,000, behind only West Virginia at 41.5 per 100,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those arrested Thursday were:

• Alan M. Hawley, 47, of 55 Gilford Ave., on a charge of disorderly conduct. Released on $200 bail.

• Ty White, 32, a transient, on one charge of sale of a narcotic drug. Released on $2,500 bail.

• Melissa R. Gosselin, 35, of 103 Blueberry Lane, on a charge of sale of narcotic drug. Released on $2,500 bail.

• Robert Dupont, 54, of 49 Overland St., on a charge of sale of a narcotic drug. /released on $2,500 bail.

• Caleb A. Young, 23, of 37 Northbrook St., Belmont, on an electronic bench warrant and one count of resisting. Released on $800 bail.

• Nicholas Dawes, 25, of 3 Lyman St., on a charge of possession of narcotic drug. Released on $2,500 bail.

• Shane Duval, 30, 16 Kimball Road, Gilford, on a charge of sale of methamphetamine.

Those arrested earlier were:

• Robert J. Saulnier, 45, a transient, on a charge of conspiracy to sell methamphetamine.

• Justin D. Franquie, 25, a transient, on a charge of sale of methamphetamine.

• Tirar D. Tortorello, 48, a transient, on a charge of sale of a methamphetamine.

• Carson C. Woodward, 18, of 81 Pine St., on four counts of sale of controlled drugs.

• Katharine E. Delude, 28, of 137 Cotton Hill Road, Gilford, on a charge of sale of methamphetamine.

• Kenneth B. Dukette, 26, of 54B Spring St., on a charge of sale of narcotics.

• Krystina M. Cameron, 27, a transient, on a charge of sale of methamphetamine.

• Sarah C. Flanders, 35, of 52 Estates Circle, on two counts of sale of methamphetamine and one count of driving after revocation.

• Ty White, 32, a transient, on a charge of conspiracy to sell narcotics.

• Albert Rama, 23, of 72 Batchelder St., on a charge of accomplice to sale of methamphetamine, conspiracy to sell methamphetamine.

• Dawn M. Dragon, 48, of 79 Warren St., on three counts of sale of narcotics and three counts of conspiracy to commit sale of narcotics.

• Fatmir R. Gasi, 54, of 72 Batchelder St., on charges of illegal drug use abode and accomplice to sale of methamphetamine.

The following mug shots were provided by Laconia Police in connection with the above arrests. Not every person arrested is shown.

Dragon

Dukette

Woodward

  Young

Tortorello

Dawes

Dupont

Gasi

Rama

Cameron

Gosselin

White

Hawley