SALEM — A 54-year-old Peabody man is facing felony drug trafficking charges after police say he used a homeless encampment as a base to sell narcotics to vulnerable individuals.
Raymond Garland was arrested Friday morning during a Salem Police Department Community Impact Unit investigation into camping ordinance violations.
Police say Garland was frequenting the encampment and targeting unhoused persons from Salem and Peabody who suffer from long-term substance abuse disorder and chronic homelessness.
Officers found Garland in possession of 28.2 grams of fentanyl, 8.2 grams of cocaine and 22.2 grams of crack cocaine.
Police also seized $2,409 in cash as evidence of drug sales.
Garland is charged with two counts of drug trafficking and additional charges.
Homeless individuals present during the arrest were offered recovery assistance through Essex County Outreach, an organization that works with Salem’s Community Impact Unit to support the unhoused community in battling substance abuse disorder.
