State Police arrest Massachusetts, California residents after seizing 141,000 Fentanyl pills in Rhode Island, Massachusetts

The Rhode Island State Police today announced in a release that during September and October 2025 the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force, the DEA Providence District Office, and the Massachusetts State Police conducted joint narcotics operations in Johnston and Warwick as well as locations in Massachusetts. As a result of these operations, the following individuals were charged with numerous federal narcotics related offenses:

• Yhoan A Carmona German of Woburn, Massachusetts
• Josue Carmona German of Woburn, Massachusetts
• Angel F. Pena Rodriguez, unknown address
• Debhani Garza of California

During the two separate operations, Detectives with the HIDTA Task Force and Special Agents with the DEA Providence District Office seized 141,000 Fentanyl pills.

This was the result of an investigation into a Dominican Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operating in New England, specifically Providence, RI and Lawrence, MA. The Dominican DTO is operating in conjunction with the Sinaloa Cartel Network. This was a large-scale operation where large quantities of fentanyl were being distributed throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In both operations, the fentanyl was being transported in vehicles while concealed in a backpack, in one operation, and a speaker box in the trunk of the suspect’s vehicle in the second operation. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid being illicitly manufactured and distributed throughout the world. It is a major cause of overdose deaths throughout the United States. 

Federal narcotics charges include Possession with the Intent to Distribute Narcotics and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or more of Fentanyl. This investigation is ongoing and is part of DEA’s Sinaloa Cartel Initiative. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorneys’ Office, District of Rhode Island.

This seizure is the direct result of investigative efforts by the HIDTA Task Force, the DEA Providence District Office, and the Massachusetts State Police in their pursuit of violent, and often armed narcotics distributors. The success of these investigations is attributed to the partnerships of the Rhode Island State Police, participating members of the HIDTA Task Force, the DEA Providence District Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and other local and federal law enforcement agencies within the State of Rhode Island and the State of Massachusetts.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force is comprised of members from the Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, Cranston Police Department, North Providence Police Department, Johnston Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program.