‘Operation Ghost’ dismantles fentanyl ring in the New Bedford area; five kilograms of the drug, 21 people arrested, authorities say

A large-scale fentanyl trafficking ring in Massachusetts was taken down by investigators who say they arrested more than 20 people and seized five kilograms of raw fentanyl, body armor and $112,000 in cash during the sting called Operation Ghost.

The Bristol District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced Tuesday that state, local and federal investigators busted up the ring after a year-long undercover investigation in and around New Bedford.

Authorities conducted multiple search and arrest warrants throughout the past week as part of the operation.

More than 20 people were arrested, and police seized more than five kilograms of raw fentanyl, according to the district attorney’s office.

“This investigation highlights the needs for agencies to cooperate, especially in these large-scale investigations. This is something that I have tried to do during my tenure as district attorney,” Quinn said. “The seizure of between five and six kilos of fentanyl may be the largest amount of fentanyl ever seized in Bristol County. It is critical to get this lethal drug off the streets.”

Investigators also seized more than $112,000 in cash, a large quantity of marijuana, 35 grams of methamphetamine, 13 grams of crack cocaine, body armor and a large capacity firearm.

The investigation started in June 2018 when Dartmouth Police Detective Derek Sousa learned a man named Orlando Badillo was leading a large-scale fentanyl trafficking ring in the South Coast region of Massachusetts, authorities said.

Badillo, a 40-year-old New Bedford resident with a lengthy criminal history, is accused of orchestrating the distribution of fentanyl, the content of the drug’s potency, the managing of sales, the collection of debts and acquiring of new customers, authorities said.

“The organization distributed large amounts of fentanyl to lower level drug dealers who sold to street level users,” according to the district attorney’s office.

Several law enforcement agencies continued to identify people involved in the ring as the investigation unfolded.

In March, authorities received a warrant for a wiretap and began collecting more information between March 5 and April 30.

The district attorney’s office said Robert Peguero was identified as the man who was supplying large quantities of raw fentanyl to the trafficking organization.

On April 30, investigators received several search and arrest warrants. The drug ring was then dismantled. Over the weekend, authorities arrested several lower-level drug dealers.

“These dealers, during the last year, have purchased large amounts of fentanyl from the drug trafficking organization,” the district attorney’s office said.

The following people were arrested:

• Maria Carrion, 42, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking fentanyl
• Orlando Badillo, 40, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking fentanyl
• Pedro Cruz, 38, of New Bedford, charged with trafficking fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• Samuel Gonzalez Lopez, 51, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Kelly Rodrigues, 29, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a class A substance-subsequent offense
• Elizabeth Andrews, 31, of Fairhaven, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Robert Peguero, 48, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking fentanyl
• Heather Cabral, 38, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Lisa Telfair, 57, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking fentanyl.
• Xiomara Rivera, 51, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Alberto Suazo, of Easton, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a class B drug
• David Luna, 37, of New Bedford, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking fentanyl
• William Furey, 39, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Diogo Alves, 29, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Brandon Barboza, 23, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Katherine Barboza, 32, of New Bedford, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
• John Blackledge, 40, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Joseph Medeiros, 33, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Ashley Rebello, 26, of Dartmouth, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Adrian DeJesus, 33, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
• Wayne Farias, 35, of New Bedford, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl