Maura Healey’s aide arrested after 8 KILOS of cocaine delivered to Massachusetts state office

LaMar Cook, 45, deputy director of Healey’s western Massachusetts office since 2023, was stopped while in his car, three days after the ‘controlled delivery operation’ of the eight kilograms of cocaine to the Springfield state office building, per the New York Post.

Cook has been charged with trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. This was announced by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Guilluni on Wednesday.

Throughout the investigation, numerous packages totaling about 21 kilograms of cocaine were seized by the Massachusetts State Police.

Parcels of cocaine totaling 13 kilograms seized at the Hotel UMass in Amherst on Oct 10, where Cook previously worked as the director of the Hotel, were also linked to him, according to Fox News.

Cook pled not guilty in Springfield District Court, and his bail was set at $25,000. After the arrest, Cook was fired from his position in Gov. Healey’s administration.

A rep of Healey’s stated, “The governor’s office has been made aware of the arrest of an employee, Lamar Cook. The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust.” The statement added, “Mr Cook has been terminated from his position effective immediately,” and also “This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work.”

Republican challengers to Gov Healey in 2026 responded on X. Mike Kennealy, a former state official, said “Healey has lost control of every aspect of her administration,” and “When I’m Governor, we’ll clean up the mess that Maura Healey created.”

Brian Shortsleeve, former head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority posted “A top aide to Gov. Maura Healey is a drug trafficker. This is beyond shocking,” and added “This is a reflection not just on our governor and her failed leadership and management skills, but on our entire state, and we shouldn’t tolerate it. Gov. Healey owes Massachusetts an explanation.”

Healey has faced a large turnover in staff this year as she heads toward reelection in 2026, reported by WBUR. Just in the last 6 months, five of 11 cabinet-level secretaries have left or are leaving. Erin O’Brien, a political science professor at UMass Boston said, “A good scholar of public administration would say, ‘What, if anything, is going on here? Is this a cabinet that’s not getting along, or that feels that they don’t have the attention of Gov. Healey?”