One town employee will be tried for drug-related charges after police found that he has been selling drugs to another town employee for the past three years.

Water Department employee Paul Andrade, 42, of Fall River and utility billing clerk Carolyn Oliveira were both charged with conspiracy to violate drug law last week, after police found Andrade picking up money for a suboxone delivery in the Town Hall parking lot. Additionally, Andrade was charged with drug distribution, and Oliveira was charged with possession.

Following a hearing last week, a magistrate determined that there was not probable cause to try Oliveira for drug possession, as no drugs were found on her person.

Andrade will be tried for distribution. The arraignment is scheduled for July 10.

Town employees tipped off the police, and the following narcotics investigation in April uncovered a three-year routine. On April 27, around 10:25 a.m., detectives Derek Sousa and Frank Oliveira confronted Andrade in the rear Town Hall parking lot, after watching him pick up $120 from Oliveira's GMC Terrain, according to court documents. Andrade was at that time operating a town-issued vehicle, according to the documents.

Andrade confessed to police that he sold Oliveira 52 suboxone strips for $10 each every month, according to court documents. The drugs — used to treat opiate addiction — accounted for most of Andrade's 60-count monthly prescription.

Andrade would sometimes leave the drugs in Oliveira's vehicle; other times, she would pick them up at Andrade's Fall River home. Every Thursday, Andrade would pick up monies from Oliveira's vehicle because that's when she gets paid, according to court documents.

On April 27, the detectives questioned Oliveira, who confirmed that she had been buying the suboxone strips from Andrade, according to the court documents. She allowed police to search her purse, where they located the wrapping for a suboxone strip, according to documents.

The incident was the second time the detectives had watched Andrade take cash from Oliveira's car. The first account had been on April 20, around 8:40 a.m. in the Town Hall's front parking lot. Andrade was also operating a department vehicle then.

Oliveira resigned from her position in the town collector’s office last week, according to town officials. The Board of Public Works will discuss Andrade's employment status on June 9, said officials. Andrade is currently on administrative leave.