United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(BURLINGTON, Vt. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Marco Antonio Lam Peralta, 42, of South Londonderry, Vermont was arrested based upon an arrest warrant issued by the United States District Court upon a Criminal Complaint charging Lam Peralta with conspiracy to distribute heroin, a schedule I controlled substance.

As explained in the Criminal Complaint, this case relates to Homeland Security (HSI) early October 2015 seizure in Miami of a shipment from Guatemala containing more than 40 kilograms of heroin. The shipment was destined for an address in Manchester Center, Vermont. On October 8, 2015, police arrested Diego Mejia Paredes upon his taking delivery of that shipment. The Grand Jury subsequently returned a one count indictment against Mejia Paredes charging possession with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin in connection with the October 8, 2015 delivery. That prosecution is pending.  Additional investigation by the HSI, the Drug Enforcement (DEA), the Vermont State (VSP), and the United States Border (USBP) has revealed that Mejia Paredes was working with Lam Peralta in connection with the intercepted shipment, as well as previous shipments from Guatemala which law enforcement believes contained heroin.

Lam Peralta made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy this afternoon. He was ordered held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, March 28, at 1:30pm.
 
United States Attorney Eric S. Miller observed that yesterday’s arrest was the result of extraordinary investigative coordination between DEA, HSI, VSP, and USBP. “The arrest of Mr. Lam Peralta is the result of extraordinary effort by, and cooperation among, DEA, HSI, VSP, and USBP. I am once again pleased to see our federal and State partners working so closely together to stem the flow of heroin into Vermont.”