Portsmouth drug sales suspect arrested after Gosling Meadows reports

PORTSMOUTH — A Dominican man has been arrested and faces federal charges for allegedly selling illegal drugs to a confidential police source in the city, according to the U.S. attorney’s office and an affidavit filed in connection with the case.

Maikol Yordan Saldivar-Diaz, 28, was charged by complaint with one count of distribution of controlled substances — fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the U.S. attorney.

Portsmouth Housing Authority officials notified Portsmouth police about “consistent drug activity at the Gosling Meadows” development, according to federal prosecutors.

The Portsmouth Housing Authority owns and operates the development.

“Investigators were subsequently able to identify Saldivar-Diaz as the source of this drug activity. On three occasions in June and July of 2024, Saldivar-Diaz sold controlled substances to a confidential informant,” the U.S. attorney’s office stated in its press release. “The first two sales were for a quantity of suspected fentanyl, and the third sale was for a quantity of suspected methamphetamine.”

Portsmouth police Capt. David Keaveny said Thursday the suspect was not a resident of Gosling Meadows.

Saldivar-Diaz was arrested Wednesday and scheduled to appear in federal court in Concord on Friday.

The investigation into the alleged illegal drug sales was led by Portsmouth police and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the U.S. attorney.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.

Portsmouth Housing Authority director reacts to arrest

Craig Welch, the Portsmouth Housing Authority’s executive director, confirmed the drug suspect “was not a resident of Gosling Meadows.” He also touted efforts to prevent drug sales at the multi-family property.

“We have security and surveillance in place, and are in close cooperation with the Portsmouth Police Department,” Welch said Thursday. “It’s just not a smart thing to do to come on to our property and try to sell any illicit drugs.”

“We were again successful in keeping these folks out of our properties,” he said Thursday, adding, “We’re happy to have him gone.”

He called the arrest “a big success,” but said it’s “pretty routine because of our work with Portsmouth PD and other agencies. We’ve made it a real priority to have a good working relationship with them. Safety is a top priority."

Welch added, "There are still a lot of people that are struggling with addiction" to drugs or alcohol. “We all need to keep our eyes out for those folks and get people into recovery."

Details of alleged drug sales in Portsmouth

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent David H. McGuckin filed an affidavit in federal court in connection with the drug charges filed against Saldivar-Diaz.

Investigators received information and help in the case from a confidential source, who participated in three controlled drug buys in Portsmouth, involving the suspect, according to the affidavit.

“Based on my training and experience, and the facts set forth in this affidavit, I have probable cause to believe that between June 18, 2024, and July 11, 2024, in the District of New Hampshire, Saldivar-Diaz unlawfully distributed controlled substances, fentanyl and methamphetamine,” McGuckin said.

He reported that in early May 2024, Portsmouth Housing Authority security reached out to Portsmouth police in connection with the “consistent drug activity” at Gosling Meadows. PHA security “observed multiple individuals conduct quick meetings” with the suspect, later identified as Saldivar-Diaz in the Ford Explorer he was driving, according to the affidavit.

The confidential source identified Saldivar-Diaz as the source of the drugs for the housing development, according to the document.

The confidential source then made controlled buys of illegal drugs from the suspect on June 18, June 28, and July 11, while police were monitoring the transactions, according to the affidavit.

Two of the drug deals allegedly took place in the Burlington Coat Factory parking lot in Portsmouth while one occurred in the Marshall’s parking lot, according to the affidavit.

None of the controlled buys took place at Gosling Meadows, according to the affidavit.

On June 18, the controlled drug buy took place in the parking lot of the Burlington Coat Factory off Woodbury Avenue, according to the affidavit.

The confidential source gave $540 to the drug suspect, who then provided about 30 grams of what “field tested presumptive positive for fentanyl,” according to the affidavit.

On June 28, the controlled drug buy also took place in the parking lot of the Burlington Coat Factory, according to the affidavit.

The confidential source gave Saldivar-Diaz $800 in exchange for about 45 grams of illicit drugs that field tested positive for fentanyl, according to the affidavit.

The next controlled buy, this time for methamphetamine, took place on July 11, according to the affidavit.

The alleged drug deal took place at the Marshall’s parking lot, adjacent to the Burlington Coat Factory, according to the affidavit.

The confidential source gave the drug suspect $850 in exchange for about 58 games of what field tested positive for crystal methamphetamine, according to the affidavit.

The identity of Saldivar-Diaz's attorney was not immediately known.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth drug sales suspect arrested after Gosling Meadows reports