Authorities Nab Six in Multi-Agency Drug Raids

Authorities arrested six local men, including one Peabody resident, Friday morning in several drug raids across the North Shore.

One of the men was also identified as the owner of Bangkok Paradise in Salem.

Essex Country District Attorney's office spokeswoman Carrie Kimball-Monahan said warrants were executed at 10 different locations in Lynn, Peabody, Salem and Danvers and police also seized thousands of oxycodone pills along with more than $50,000 in cash and a gun.

She said the arrests were the result of a "long-term, multi-agency drug investigation." The agencies involved were DA's Drug Task Force, state police, Drug Enforcement Agency, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and Peabody, Lynn, Salem and Danvers police.

The following men were arrested and scheduled for arraignment in Peabody and Salem district courts Friday morning:

1. Celton Pelaez, 36, of 84 Aborn St., Peabody, was charged with trafficking oxycodone.
2. Jesus Franco, 42, of 34 Perkins St., Salem, (owner of Bangkok Paradise) was charged with trafficking oxycodone.
3. Jason Gentry, 32, of 5 Station Rd., Salem, was charged with possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
4. David Soucy, 35, of 7 Garden St., Danvers, was charged with trafficking oxycodone.
5. Henry Hernandez, 36, of 32 Columbia Ave., Lynn, was charged with trafficking oxycodone.
6. Joel Gonzalez, 32, of 44 Lawrence Rd., Lynn, was charged with the sale of a firearm.