In a statement, a spokesperson for Healey said Cook’s conduct was “unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust.”

Cook, who was serving as the deputy director of the governor’s Western Massachusetts office, was fired “effective immediately,” Healey’s office said.

“This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work,” the spokesperson, Karissa Hand, said in a statement.

Cook, a former Springfield City Council candidate, made $115,668 in his role with the governor’s office, according to state records.

On his LinkedIn, Cook said he served “as a key liaison between the state government and the western region of Massachusetts.”

“In this role, I effectively manage and coordinate government initiatives and policies in 4 counties,” he wrote.

According to law enforcement, the investigation stems from two prior seizures earlier this month, including an Oct. 10 seizure of two suspicious packages that had 13 kilograms of cocaine at Hotel UMass in Amherst.

Healey appointed Cook to his role in 2023. He previously served as director of the UMass hotel, according to LinkedIn. Before that, he worked at area hotels.

In announcing his role, Healey described Cook and Kristen Elechko, the director of the office, as “two proven leaders with deep ties to Western Mass.”

“They know the communities, they know the businesses, they know the needs and opportunities of the region,” she said.

The arrest immediately drew fire from Healey’s Republican challengers, who cast the charges as a reflection of Healey’s leadership.

In a statement, Mike Kennealy, who served as economic development secretary under then-Governor Charlie Baker, called the arrest a “disgrace for our state.”

“There’s something fundamentally rotten in this administration,” he said.

Former MBTA executive Brian Shortsleeve, another GOP gubernatorial candidate, said the arrest “is not bad luck, it’s bad leadership.”

“It tells us everything we need to know about how [Healey] runs her administration,” he said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Samantha J. Gross can be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Follow her @samanthajgross.