By George P. Hassett

Drug unit cops on routine surveillance in Winter Hill arrested two men as they completed a heroin deal in the Walgreen’s parking lot on Broadway Feb. 9, police said.

Police allegedly observed Derek Luzzo, 21, of 17 Birch Pond Drive, Saugus, enter the parking lot and pull up next to a car driven by Albert Saidah, 24, of 30 Clayton Ave., Medford.

Police said Saidah exited his car and approached Luzzo’s car to pass what appeared to be currency through an open window. He allegedly received an object in return and returned to his car to leave.

“Based on my training and experience, the observations made at the time of the narcotic interdiction surveillance,  I opined the defendants actions  were consistent with behavior displayed at the time of a street level drug transaction,” drug-unit Detective James Hyde wrote in his incident report.

As officers approached Luzzo’s vehicle he allegedly ingested objects from his right hand to his mouth.

“I would note that based on my training and experience Luzzos responsive actions were consistent with a stratagem practiced by street level drug distributors at the time of law enforcement intervention. The ingestion of contraband is done to destroy all evidence as it relates to the drug offense,” Hyde wrote.

Officers allegedly found a bag of heroin inside Saidah’s car when they stopped him. He was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, conspiracy to violate a drug law and possession of a class A drug.

Luzzo was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate a drug law, drug violation near a school or park and distribution of a class A drug.