Fentanyl & Cocaine Seizures: US Atty

PROVIDENCE, RI — State police and the U.S. Attorney's office on Monday announced multi-state arrests, drug seizures and an ongoing investigation into a drug trafficking organization. It is believed that hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine were moved through Rhode Island and Massachusetts. According to the authorities, 23 suspects faced charges in Providence, while two individuals have been charged in state courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts. In addition, federal arrest warrants have been issued for several more individuals in connection with “Operation Panamera.” At least 45 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana have been seized so far.

"The first strike by law enforcement occurred when members of law enforcement interrupted the delivery of a kilogram of suspected fentanyl on February 14, 2017, allegedly supplied by a Rhode Island man, earmarked for delivery in Bridgewater, Mass," state police said. "That investigation expanded to encompass a series of investigations that, to date, has involved at least 36 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in six states and in the Dominican Republic."

Here is the rest of the account from the press release:

During the course of the investigations, at least 23 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, 11kilograms of cocaine, 11 kilograms of marijuana and two kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms were seized. The seizures were made as the drugs moved through the U.S. Postal Service; during traffic stops, including a traffic stop in Fairfield, Conn., on September 30, 2017, where 5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, ultimately headed to Rhode Island for distribution, were seized; and the execution of court authorized searches of residences, storage units and vehicles where, for example, 5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl were seized from a residence in Norton, Mass., on September 30, 2017. Among the individuals arrested and detained in federal custody is Ramon Delossantos, 24, of Cumberland, R.I., a Dominican national identified in court papers as the alleged leader of the drug trafficking organization.

It is alleged that Delossantos was the source of the kilogram of fentanyl seized on February 14, 2017, in Bridgewater, Mass. It is also alleged in court documents that at least 50 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine were trafficked by Delossantos or by individuals associated with Delossantos. The investigation determined that Delossantos allegedly utilized multiple telephones to avoid law enforcement detection as he allegedly facilitated the distribution of narcotics in New England with the use of “runners.” It is alleged that the deliveries varied from small quantities for users to kilograms quantities at a time for large scale distributors. Delossantos’ alleged mode of transportation during the alleged drug trafficking operation was a 2010 Porche Panamera Turbo. Delossantos was arrested on October 2, 2017, and his Porche Panamera was seized by law enforcement.

According to court documents, Delossantos, who has strong ties to the Dominican Republic, was previously convicted in Massachusetts and Rhode Island state courts on drug trafficking and firearms charges. Most recently, Delossantos was convicted and sentenced to the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Rhode Island in December 2014 on firearms charges. An immigration detainer was lodged against Delossantos at that time by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Delossantos was released from the ACI upon completion of his prison sentence in May 2016.

Also detained in federal custody are Rinaxo M. Rufino, 33, of Miramar, FL., and Gabriel Concepcion, 27, of Kissimmee, FL., on a federal indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. They were arrested on August 26, 2017, and charged in connection with the seizure of more than 19 kilograms of cocaine shipped via the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to residences in Providence, Woonsocket and Central Falls. The packages were intercepted by U.S. Postal Inspectors. It is alleged in court documents that Rufino and Conception were associated with Delossantos.

Image via Shutterstock