[UPDATE] ‘Operation Ghost’ nets 11 arrests in New Bedford fentanyl trafficking ring – News – southcoasttoday.com

NEW BEDFORD — Authorities have arrested 11 people and busted a large-scale fentanyl network, described as “highly organized and complex” and employing couriers and dealers, the DA’s office said.

The arrests followed a year-long investigation, dubbed “Operation Ghost,” that resulted in arrest and search warrants being executed Tuesday morning throughout New Bedford, according to a news release from Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.

Investigators seized large quantities of suspected fentanyl and tens of thousands of dollars in cash, Miliote said.

Robert Peguero, 48, of 50 Newcomb St., New Bedford, was identified as the supplier of the network, and Orlando Badillo, 40, of 17 Studley St., New Bedford, was identified as the leader of the organization, according to the DA’s office. Both are charged with trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy to traffic fentanyl.

Judge Paul G. Pino ordered Peguero held without bail for a dangerousness hearing at 11 a.m. on May 7 in New Bedford District Court. Badillo was arraigned Tuesday and ordered held without bail until Wednesday because the court had exhausted all the available attorneys.

The judge set bail on Xiomara Rivera, 51, of 17 Studley St., Apartment 3, New Bedford, at $13,000 cash. She is charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl. Pino also ordered that she have no contact with the co-defendants and surrender her passport.

Prosecutor Zach Mercer said Rivera’s apartment was used by the network to package and cut fentanyl and she also had contact with Badillo. The prosecutor called the drug operation “highly organized and complex.” He said it dealt in sales of 10 grams of fentanyl and employed couriers and street dealers.

When police raided her apartment, they seized $25,680 in cash that was in a safe as well as six pounds of marijuana, the prosecutor said. She also has prior convictions.

Samuel Gonzalez Lopez, 51, of 882 Old Plainville Road, New Bedford, was arraigned on charges of trafficking in fentanyl and conspiracy to traffic fentanyl. Like Peguero, he was ordered held without bail until Wednesday in New Bedford District Court because the court had exhausted the number of available defense attorneys.

Pedro Cruz, 38, of 4 Kearsarge St., New Bedford, was arraigned on charges of trafficking in fentanyl and conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl. He was ordered held without bail for a dangerousness hearing May 8 in New Bedford District Court.

Kelly L. Rodrigues, 39, of 66 Myrtle St., New Bedford, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance, subsequent offense, according to court documents. She was ordered held for a dangerousness hearing Wednesday in New Bedford District Court.

Police executed a search warrant at her second-floor apartment and found one plastic bag of fentanyl, weighing 5 grams, a digital scale and about $3,000 in cash, according to court documents. She has a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin from Dec. 27, 2001.

Elizabeth Andrews, 31, of 35 Green St., Fairhaven, is charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and she was ordered held without bail for a dangerousness hearing on May 8 in New Bedford District Court. As she was removed from the courtroom in handcuffs, she turned to someone in the gallery said, “I love you.”

Heather Cabral, 38, of 152 Bluefield St., New Bedford, is charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and she was ordered held without bail for a dangerousness hearing on May 3 in New Bedford District Court.

Maria Carrion, 42, of 74 Hope St., New Bedford, is charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and she was ordered held without bail for a dangerousness hearing on May 7 in New Bedford District Court. She was also given a bail revocation warning.

Lisa Telfair, 57, of 850 Pleasant St. is charged with trafficking in fentanyl and conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl and she was ordered held without bail for a dangerousness hearing on Wednesday. She was also given a bail revocation warning.

Also, Alberto Suazo, age not available, of Easton, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a Class B substance, according to the DA’s office.

The investigation was funded by a grant through Attorney General Maura Healey’s office, according to the DA’s office. It came from a $3 million federal grant that was awarded to the AG’s Fentanyl Strike Force to expand its efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and disrupt drug and fentanyl trafficking throughout Massachusetts.

“Operation Ghost” was coordinated by Assistant District Attorney Steve Butts, the chief of DA Quinn’s drug prosecution unit, and involved cooperation among numerous law enforcement agencies. Those agencies include the Bristol County District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit, Dartmouth Police, New Bedford Police, the AG’s State Police Detective Unit, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Homeland Security’s Boston Office and various other units of the Massachusetts State Police.

“I am very pleased that this successful investigation has led to the arrest of several people involved in a large-scale fentanyl trafficking ring. As we have seen repeatedly during the past several years, the distribution and use of fentanyl has led to a significant increase in fatal overdoses in the region,” Quinn said in a statement.

“This is a very good example of law enforcement agencies working together and contributing their resources to a complex investigation. We will continue to invest significant resources to take down the individuals who continue to be engaged in this lethal business. I would also like to thank the Attorney General’s office for their support of this investigation,” he said.

Follow Curt Brown on Twitter @CurtBrown_SCT