Multistate drug-trafficking investigation nets 23 charges in R.I.

TWENTY-THREE INDIVIDUALS have been charged in federal court in Providence in a multistate drug-trafficking investigation that seized over 45 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. / COURTESY CAROL M. HIGHSMITH
TWENTY-THREE INDIVIDUALS have been charged in federal court in Providence in a multistate drug-trafficking investigation that seized over 45 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. / COURTESY CAROL M. HIGHSMITH

PROVIDENCE – Twenty-three individuals were charged in federal court in Providence in connection with a series of investigations that has to date resulted in “at least 45 kilograms,” or over 99 pounds, of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.

Col. Ann C. Assumpico, superintendent of the R.I. State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety, said, “Rhode Islanders – and everyone throughout New England – should be proud of the teamwork that went into this operation. Working together, we arrested more than two dozen people. We seized 47 kilos of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other illegal narcotics worth millions of dollars. We also saved lives. We can’t begin to imagine how many people could have died if we didn’t get those deadly drugs off our streets.”

Ramon Delossantos of Cumberland, a Dominican national, was named the alleged leader of the busted drug ring. The sting, “Operation Panamera,” was named after Delossantos’ Porche with which he allegedly trafficked drugs.

“This cooperative effort is yet another example of the coordinated approach law enforcement employs to combat the scourge of illegal drug distribution, particularly the opioid epidemic that has hit Rhode Island and the entire country so hard during the last few years,” said Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch. “Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. Unfortunately, Rhode Island has not been immune to this crisis. In 2016, 336 Rhode Islanders died from an overdose, with 195 of those deaths involving fentanyl. To put that number in perspective, we had 29 homicides and 53 traffic fatalities in Rhode Island during that same period. So, when someone says drug dealing is not a violent crime, think of those numbers.”

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The investigations included “at least 36” federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies in six states and in the Dominican Republic.

The DOJ release noted that Delossantos had strong ties to the Dominican Republic and had previously been convicted of drug trafficking and firearm charges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

As part of the investigations, two individuals have been charged in state courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Several more federal arrest warrants have been issued for other individuals connected to the drug-trafficking organization.

It is alleged that the organization was responsible for hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.

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