Massachusetts authorities arrested 4, seize pills, 100 pounds of fentanyl worth over $2 million

BOSTON – Three men and a woman were ordered held on high bail amounts after being arraigned Wednesday in separate cases that resulted in the seizure of large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

In Dorchester BMC, 33-year-old Rahelin Reynoso, 44-year-old Quenty Ogando, and 31-year-old Erika Prado, all from Boston, were charged with trafficking fentanyl over 200 grams and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Judge Thomas Kaplanes ordered Reynoso and Ogando held on $100,000 bail each and Prado on $50,000 bail and ordered all to surrender their passports. The three will return to court December 9 for a probable cause hearing.

Reynoso, Ogando and Prado were arrested on Tuesday, November 22 after a joint investigation and search warrant execution at 43 River Street in Boston involving US Postal Inspectors, Department of Homeland Security agents, Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police. Officers discovered about 100 pounds of fentanyl in powder and pill form, three industrial-sized pill press machines, multiple sealed and labeled US priority-mail envelopes containing various amounts of pills and assorted packaging materials.

The seized fentanyl has a street value of about $2.25 million.

In Chelsea District Court, Elizaul Landestoy Sanchez, 34, of Revere was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, trafficking cocaine over 200 grams and trafficking fentanyl. Judge Jane Prince ordered Sanchez held on $100,000 bail, plus surrender of passport, remain in Massachusetts and be fitted with a GPS tracking device. Sanchez will return to court December 20 for a probable cause hearing.

On November 3, a joint task force consisting of Revere and Lynn police, DEA agents and Massachusetts State Police executed a search warrant at 58 School Street in Revere and seized more than 509 grams of cocaine and more than 26 grams of fentanyl. Some of the drugs were found in a children’s bedroom. Also seized were $960 in cash and a scale.

“Both of these operations took major amounts of dangerous drugs off the streets and disrupted a sophisticated fentanyl manufacturing and distribution operation involving pill shipments via the mail system. Every state in the nation has experienced the devastating effects of fentanyl so operations like these are necessary and important,” Hayden said.