Two Lawrence residents have been charged following an investigation into a drug manufacturing operation that led to the recovery of over 18 kilograms of suspected controlled substances and a pill press, authorities announced.
Jose Vasquez Lantigua, 47, and Manuel Santana-Soto, 35, both from Lawrence, Massachusetts, face charges including conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. They were arrested and charged in state court on August 28, 2025. A third alleged co-conspirator, Joshua Morales, was also arrested at that time and later charged with federal drug offenses on August 29. Morales remains in federal custody while Lantigua and Santana-Soto are in state custody pending their appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to charging documents, investigators observed Morales entering and leaving a known drug distribution site inside a third-floor apartment in Methuen. He was later detained in Lawrence where police allegedly found 10,000 counterfeit Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl during a search of his vehicle.
During the search of the Methuen residence, officers reportedly noticed fresh footprints in powders thought to be controlled substances leading down an interior staircase to another apartment where Lantigua and Santana-Soto were found. The two men were allegedly wearing flip flops with soles matching the powdered footprints. Charging documents allege they fled from the third-floor unit into another tenant’s second-floor apartment before police entered.
Inside the third-floor apartment, law enforcement officials say they discovered an automated pill press along with multiple kilograms of counterfeit Adderall and Percocet pills suspected of containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Equipment used for pill manufacturing—including cutting agents, blenders, scales, bowls, bags of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine powders—was also seized.
The charge of conspiracy to manufacture or distribute controlled substances carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison as well as supervised release for at least three years up to life and fines up to $1 million. Manufacturing or possessing controlled substances with intent carries similar penalties. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara made the announcement today.” Additional support came from several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms; Drug Enforcement Administration; Essex and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; as well as Lynn, Medford and Peabody Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard is prosecuting this case as part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice focused on combating illegal immigration-related crime networks through coordinated efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods (https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf).
Authorities remind that all details provided are allegations at this stage: “The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
