New Hampshire man charged with trafficking fentanyl after traffic stop on I-495

METHEUN, Mass. (WWLP) – A New Hampshire man was arrested for trafficking fentanyl after a traffic stop in Methuen Sunday afternoon.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, a trooper was patrolling I-495 in Methuen when he saw a Chevy Cavalier in front of him speeding in the right lane. A traffic stop was conducted and when the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver provided a Massachusetts driver’s license.

The trooper noticed that inside the vehicle, the interior appeared to be stripped apart, and the ignition was tampered with. The driver was also unusually nervous and evasive in answering questions and was asked to step out of the vehicle.

An additional trooper was called in and while talking to the passenger, 40-year-old James Welcome of Andover N.H., he saw he had a knife clipped to his jeans. Welcome was removed from the vehicle. Troopers seized the knife and two baggies of approximately 11 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams of methamphetamine, and numerous prescription pills in his possession.

Welcome was arrested and charged with the following:

• Possession To Distribute Crystal Methamphetamine
• Trafficking in Fentanyl
• Carrying A Dangerous Weapon
• Possession Of Class E Substance

The driver was issued a summons for speeding and possession of a Class A substance after she was found to have several pieces of drug paraphernalia with a powdery residue.

Local News

NAMI to hold mindfulness yoga class at Heartsong Yoga in East Longmeadow

City of Northampton converting former church into new ‘Community Resilience Hub’

Western Mass. communities bracing for shelter stay limits

Greenfield unveils municipal digital equity plan

22News began broadcasting in March 1953 providing local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Follow WWLP-22News on X @WWLP22News and Facebook .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.