Car Thief Uncovers Kilo Of Cocaine In Hyannis Bound For Nantucket

The Barnstable Police Department's detective unit arrested an island resident who was allegedly preparing to transport a kilogram of cocaine from Hyannis to Nantucket on Thursday, January 8th at approximately 11 a.m.

"As a result of an ongoing investigation initiated by the Barnstable Police, 62-year-old Edward Gillespie was identified as a narcotics supplier, trafficking cocaine from Hyannis to the island," Barnstable Police stated in a press release. "Following Gillespie’s arrest, the Barnstable Police Detective Unit was granted a search warrant for his Nantucket residence. With the support of the Nantucket Police Detective Unit, United States Coast Guard, and resident Cape Cod DEA office, a search of Gillespie’s home yielded additional quantities of cocaine, amphetamines, evidence of narcotics trafficking, and approximately $10,000 in US currency."

According to the police report, officers dispatched to the area of Bay Street in Hyannis on Tuesday, January 6th at 7:49 p.m. to speak to an individual who said he found a package on the side of Old Colony Road in Hyannis containing a white powdery substance he believed was cocaine.

Once back at the station, the reporting party admitted he located it inside of the trunk of a vehicle he was attempting to steal from. The reporting party told police his intention was to steal the vehicle and used a screwdriver to pry open the steering column to manipulate the ignition cylinder, but the car wouldn't start.

After the failed attempt to start vehicle, the individual went to the truck to look for valuables and lifted the spare tire well. That was when he found a Target bag containing a duct taped package.

"After inspecting the package further, (redacted) said he got scared when he realized the package contained drugs and didn't want the drugs in his possession," the report says. "(The reporting party) also stated that he was unsure what to do with the drugs, which is why he contacted the Barnstable Police Department to get rid of them."

The reporting party directed the police and their detective unit to a private commuter parking lot at the corner of Bay Street and Old Colony Road where he identified a gray Kia Forte. The vehicle was registered to Edward Gillespie, of Nantucket, and police immediately observed the driver's door handle on the ground and the vehicle's ignition pried open.

The Barnstable Police seized approximately 1,141 grams of cocaine, 68 grams of Amphetamine pills and approximately $10,000 in cash from the vehicle following their investigation. They were also granted two search warrants from the Barnstable District Court - one to install a pole camera directed at the vehicle and another to install a GPS tracking device on the vehicle.

On January 8th at 10:26 a.m., detectives observed a male party, later identified as Gillespie, while monitoring the pole camera walk directly to the rear of the vehicle and open the trunk. After looking into the trunk, he was observed shutting the trunk and entering the driver's side of the vehicle. Approximately 30 seconds later, he exited the vehicle, returned to the trunk, and lifted the spare tire well exposing the compartment below where the narcotics were located by the reporting party.

"After inspecting the tire well, Gillespie closes the trunk and is seen pacing back and forth next to the vehicle while making a phone call," the report says. "Shortly after, Gillespie returns to the trunk for a third time and began completely dismantling the spare tire well."

While this was occurring, three detectives responded to the area while another monitored the camera. When detectives made contact with Gillespie, he told them his vehicle was broken into. He said he lives on Nantucket and came from his home that morning after taking the Steamship over to Cape Cod and that he was going to "run errands" while on Cape Cod that included getting a separate vehicle serviced. He said he was planning to return to the island later that day.

After being read his Miranda Rights, Gillespie denied knowing about anything illegal being in his vehicle and that if there was something illegal, that he did not put it there. Gillespie claimed to police that the reason he was looking in his trunk was because his spare tire was stolen from the vehicle, however police said a 2024 Kia Forte does not come standard with a spare tire and instead has a tire mobility kit. Gillespie showed police the location where the alleged spare tire was that was stolen, however police determined there was not enough space for a tire to be stored there due to a plastic insert utilized for storage and other vehicle tools.

Gillespie was arrested and subsequently arraigned on Friday, January 9th in Barnstable District Court on a charge of trafficking cocaine over 200 grams. Gillespie is being held in the Barnstable House of Corrections pending a dangerousness hearing, which will take place on January 16th in Barnstable.

Barnstable police detectives traveled to Gillespie's 7 Windy Way residence on Nantucket to execute the search warrant. With the assistance of Nantucket Police, investigators seized approximately 38 grams of cocaine, 68 grams of Adderall (Amphetamines), $9,500 of US currency, packaging material, and a digital scale. Nantucket Police will be submitting a summons for Gillespie in Nantucket District Court for the narcotics located on Nantucket.

"This case is being prosecuted by the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office," Barnstable police concluded in their release. "The Nantucket Police Department will be seeking additional narcotics trafficking charges in the Nantucket District Court for the drugs seized from Gillespie’s residence."

Gillespie's arrest comes just months after the largest cocaine bust in Nantucket history in May 2025, when Francisco Fernandez Sanchez, 31, was arrested on Youngs Way where Nantucket Police discovered approximately 2,574 grams of cocaine (5.67 pounds) inside a residence.