LEOMINSTER — On Thursday, February 5, 2025, investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Worcester High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, North Worcester County Drug Task Force, and Massachusetts State Police were conducting surveillance of a known drug trafficker, Steven Melecio, who has been identified as the leader of the drug trafficking organization. Police said Melecio is known to receive postal packages containing kilogram quantities of cocaine.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Statement of Facts in Support of Criminal Complaint the Leominster Police Department submitted to the Leominster District Court for the incident and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
According to police, Steven Junior Melecio, 30, is a resident of 41 Salem Street, Apt. 1, Fitchburg, MA.
“Inquiries through the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) identified a suspicious package mailed from Ciales, Puerto Rico, addressed to 29 Osgood Street, Apartment 3, Gardner, Massachusetts,” the Leominster Police Department said in the Statement of Facts. “On this same day, investigators established surveillance in the area of Melecio’s residence, 41 Salem Street in Fitchburg.”
While surveilling Melecio’s residence, investigators observed a gray 2014 Acura MDX with Massachusetts license plates enter the driveway. Shortly afterward, the MDX left the residence. About 30 minutes later, investigators surveilling 29 Osgood Street in Gardner observed the same Acura MDX arrive and park in front of the address.
“Melecio was identified as the passenger of the Acura MDX,” the Leominster Police Department said. “Shortly thereafter, investigators observed a postal truck delivering a package to the front porch of 29 Osgood Street. Moments later, investigators observed Melecio exit the Acura MDX and retrieve the package, return to the vehicle, and depart.”
Investigators then followed the Acura MDX to an apartment complex on Berrington Road in Leominster.
“At that location, it was determined that Melecio would be taken into custody,” the Leominster Police Department said. “As law enforcement officers attempted to apprehend Melecio, the driver, subsequently identified as Yahir Fernandez-Ruiz, accelerated his vehicle and hit an unmarked state police cruiser head-on. Both subjects fled on foot and were apprehended shortly thereafter.”
According to police, Yahir Sammir Fernandez-Ruiz, 22, is a resident of Ashburnham Hill Road in Fitchburg, MA.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found the opened postal package and a box resembling a portable audio speaker. An officer later discovered a kilogram of narcotics concealed inside the speaker-style box.
“The contents of the package were field-tested using a Narcotics Analysis Reagent Kit (NARK) and tested positive for the chemical compounds of cocaine,” the Leominster Police Department said.
Steven Melecio, 30, of Fitchburg was charged with the following:
- Trafficking in cocaine, 200 grams or more
- Resist Arrest
Yahir Sammir Fernandez-Ruiz, 22, of Fitchburg was charged with:
- Trafficking in cocaine, 200 grams or more
- Resist Arrest
Leominster police said that Massachusetts State Police handled the crash scene and would file separate charges against Fernandez-Ruiz.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in February, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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