Haverhill man charged with fentanyl trafficking after 17.3 grams seized during traffic stop on River Street

HAVERHILL — On Monday, July 13, 2026, at approximately 3:35 p.m., Sergeant Michael Mills was patrolling River Street behind a black Chevrolet Malibu when, acting on a hunch, he used his cruiser’s mobile data terminal to query the vehicle’s registration through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Sergeant Michael Mills and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.) 

According to Sergeant Mills, the CJIS query revealed that the vehicle was registered to Clirim Rustani, 64, of Haverhill. Rustiani, who works as a bartender, is originally from Capua, Italy.

“I also observed that the vehicle lacked an inspection sticker and had been registered since May 13, 2026,” Sergeant Mills said.

Sergeant Mills said he activated his cruiser’s emergency lights and siren and stopped the Chevrolet Malibu at the intersection of River and Bowley streets.

“I made contact with the operator who was identified as Rustani. I requested Rustani’s driver’s license and registration and advised him of the reason for the stop,” Sergeant Mills said.

Sergeant Mills observed a male in the front passenger seat later identified as a 63-year-old named Mark.

“[Mark] was not wearing a seatbelt,” Sergeant Mills said. “While speaking with Rustani, [Mark] began reaching into a bag on the floorboard in between his legs.”

Sergeant Mills told Mark to stop reaching.

“I asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle and Rustani stated there were not,” Sergeant Mills said. “Rustani had handed me the registration, which I was inspecting. [Mark] again reached in between the seat and passenger side door out of view with his right hand.”

This time, Sergeant Mills told Mark to keep his hands on his lap where he could see them.

“[Mark] stated that he was looking for his debit card. I advised [Mark] that he would not need his debit card during the traffic stop,” Sergeant Mills said. “I requested an additional unit to the scene and determined that I would remain at the vehicle to monitor both parties for my safety until backup arrived.”

Sergeant Mills then made his way to the passenger side window.

“[Mark] continued to state that he was on his way to pick up his prescription medications and was going to be late. While waiting for the additional unit to arrive, Rustani asked what the problem was,” Sergeant Mills said. “I began to explain that [Mark] was having difficulty following my instructions to keep his hands visible and that I was waiting for another unit. At this time, [Mark] for a third time began to reach with his right hand in between the seat and passenger side door out of view.”

Sergeant Mills said Mark continuously disregarded his commands while he remained the only officer at the scene.

“Fearing that [Mark] could be attempting to retrieve a weapon, I opened the passenger-side door, took ahold of his right wrist, and escorted him out of the vehicle,” Sergeant Mills said. “I conducted a pat frisk of [Mark] for weapons and instructed him to step up on the sidewalk.”

Sergeant Mills then informed Mark that he was being detained and handcuffed him with his hands behind his back.

“While I was dealing with [Mark], I was still able to observe Rustani through the open passenger-side door,” Sergeant Mills said. “Rustani also began to reach with his left hand to his left side. It appeared that he was attempting to reach in his left pocket.”

With Mark seated on the sidewalk, Sergeant Mills returned to the vehicle and ordered Rustani to exit.

“He eventually complied after three commands and was pat frisked for weapons,” Sergeant Mills said. “In Rustani’s left pocket, I felt what I believed to be a crack pipe. This was immediately apparent through plain feel, without further manipulation.”

Sergeant Mills felt no weapons on Rustani during the pat frisk.

“Rustani was also seated on the sidewalk,” Sergeant Mills explained.  

At around this time, Officer Matthew Woodman arrived on scene to assist.

“I advised Rustani of his Miranda rights from a card I carry on my person. Rustani stated he did understand these rights,” Sergeant Mills said. “I asked Rustani if he had a crack pipe on him and he stated he did. Rustani was searched, at which time, I located the pipe in his left pocket. In his right pocket, I located a Ziploc bag containing blue oval pills consistent with alprazolam or Xanax. Rustani stated that he had a prescription at home.”

Sergeant Mills then conducted a search of the passenger area of the vehicle.

“Officer Woodman had placed Rustani in handcuffs behind his back,” Sergeant Mills said. Adding, “There was a black backpack on the rear floorboard behind the driver’s seat.”

Sergeant Mill asked Rustani if the backpack was his and he stated it was.

“In the side pockets of the bag, I located three plastic containers labeled ‘blood glucose test kit,’” Sergeant Mills said.

Inside one of the containers was a tan powder consistent with fentanyl, another contained a white rocklike substance consistent with cocaine, and the third contained additional oval blue pills that appeared to match those found on Rustani, Sergeant Mills reported.

Sergeant Mills then advised Mark of his Miranda rights by reading them to him from a card he carries on his person.

“[Mark] stated he understood his rights,” Sergeant Mills said. “I asked [Mark] if he had any knowledge of the drugs in the vehicle and he stated he did not. [Mark] was released from the scene. Rustani was advised that he was under arrest and was transported to the station by Officer Woodman.”

Sergeant Mills said he secured Rustani’s vehicle and left it legally parked on River Street.

“Upon returning to the police station, the suspected narcotics were weighed, photographed, and logged into evidence,” Sergeant Mills said. “The suspected fentanyl returned a weight of 17.3 grams in packaging. The narcotics will be sent to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab for analysis and certification.”

Rustani’s bail was set at $2,000 cash.

Rustani was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on July 14, 2026. Following his arraignment, Rustani was held pending a dangerousness hearing on July 16, 2026.

At the dangerousness hearing, the court found him dangerous, but released him on personal recognizance under the condition that he remain drug-free, submit to random drug screens, and possess no dangerous weapons.

On July 29, 2026, Judge Cesar Archilla granted the Commonwealth’s motion to revoke Rustani’s bail for violating the pretrial conditions of his release, and ordered him held in custody for a 90-day period that expires on October 27, 2026.

Rustani’s next court date is a pretrial conference hearing scheduled for Aug. 13, 2026.

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Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.

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