WOBURN - A small army of federal drug enforcement personnel, along with a host of Woburn police officers, descended on the Creston Avenue housing development at 4 p.m. yesterday to bring to an end a long investigation into cocaine distribution in the Woburn area.

Espel Calixto Jr. was arrested and reportedly charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. He sat for a half-hour in front of units No. 55-57 as the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) poured in and out. Police at the scene said Calixto had "multiple addresses" at the sprawling housing complex.

"This has been a longtime investigation," said Woburn Police Capt. William Magee.

The DEA and Woburn police used video cameras to record a drug buy Tuesday, tracking Calixto, also known as "Pico," to the rear of the two-story, red brick housing development.

Tuesday, a cooperating witness was given $150 and drove an undercover vehicle to the Creston Avenue housing project, according to a DEA affidavit.

The witness made contact with Calixto who walked behind one of the buildings. The sum of $100 was used to purchase a substance a DEA officer said "we believed to be cocaine." The bags, he said, were later field tested "with positive results for cocaine."

DEA officials just before 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, whisked Calixto off to Boston to face the cocaine distribution charges. He was turned over to U.S. Justice Department officials. Calixto was due in federal court in Boston at 11 a.m. this morning. DEA officials did not disclose where he was held last night.

In all, some 10 DEA agents dressed in black raid-style uniforms and some eight Woburn police under direct charge of Lt. John Murphy were involved.

DEA and Woburn police marshaled their efforts north of the site and exploded on the heavily-populated area at 4 p.m. Stunned neighbors poured from their apartments onto Creston Avenue to view the arrest.

DEA agents collected several items and took time going through several apartments laboriously while Calixto sat on the curbstone before being ushered away.

Woburn police and DEA officials said Calixto was well-known to them and had served state time for similar offenses with the current investigation intensifying in early July.

"We feel he is the No. 1 major dealer in this area," Magee said.

"He has lived here a long time," said law enforcement officials. A woman occupant was seen wiping the suspect's leaking nose on several occasions while others peered over fences in crowded confines of the area. Others continued daily routines like raking yards and attending to children.

Against the backdrop of the two-story brick buildings, WHA Executive Director Robert McNabb arrived at the scene to survey the events. "It goes a long way to illustrate we can't commit crimes on a wholesale level and expect to get away with it."

Woburn police and WHA officials said there is a strong neighborhood watch at the site "and a lot of this is because we have had residents' assistance." The 54 units are about 98 percent occupied.

"We have had a long-time partnership with the WHA and the residents," Magee intoned.

McNabb added, "This may all be a ripple effect where everyone gets involved."

Creston Avenue, controlled by the Woburn Housing Authority, is one of four such projects in Woburn. The units are located off Maple Avenue and Beach Street, not far from Woodbrook Cemetery and the rear of the Kennedy Middle School.