Community Corner

Police: 103 Arrests Leads to "Dismantling" of 2 NL County Drug Organizations

U.S. Attorney David Fein: "We allege that the defendants arrested today were responsible for a very large percentage of the heroin and cocaine available for street sale in New London County."



Wednesday, at a press conference at Camp Niantic in East Lyme, federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced the arrests of 103 people and the “dismantling” of two massive drug organizations in New London County.

“We allege that the defendants arrested today were responsible for a very large percentage of the heroin and cocaine available for street sale in New London County,” said U.S. Attorney David Fein.

According to Fein, more than 700 law enforcement officers made 103 arrests throughout southeastern Connecticut Wednesday morning – 52 for money laundering charges and 51 individuals for arrested on state narcotics and related charges. The arrests “dismantled” two New London-based drug rings that sold heroin and cocaine throughout the region, according to Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigation’s Boston division.

“The result of this operation is nothing short of significant and it underscores what the people expect from law enforcement:  Keep drugs out of our neighborhoods,” Foucart said. “These arrests will keep the citizens of New England safer from the inevitable violence that drug trafficking brings, and chokes off a major drug stream into Connecticut – the largest our agency has ever uncovered in the state's history.”

According to Fein, Luis Ariel Capellan Maldonado, who allegedly would bring heroin from the Dominican Republic to sell to southeastern Connecticut, headed one organization. Pedro Rivera, who would bring cocaine from Puerto Rico to New London, ran the second, according to Fein.

Law enforcement officials praised the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, saying these arrests came after a 15-month organization. Along with federal and state agencies, the Waterford Police Department, New London Police Department, Groton Town Police Department, Groton City Police Department, Norwich Police Department, among others, participated in the investigation.

“The operation today shows the importance and the benefits of interagency cooperation,” said Norwich Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro, Sr.  “When local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies all work together the resulting arrests speak for themselves."

According to Fein, Based on the quantity of narcotics involved in these conspiracies, the government is seeking pre-trial detention on the vast majority of the defendants who, if convicted, face mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment of five to 10 years.

The Heroin Conspiracy

(From a press release from the US Department of Justice)

As alleged, the investigation revealed that Luis Ariel Capellan Maldonado, also known as “Ariel,” regularly procured multi-kilogram quantities of heroin from the Dominican Republic and worked with several individuals to distribute the drug in southeastern Connecticut.

Operating out of his apartment building on Hawthorne Drive in New London, Capellan Maldonado supplied customers with raw heroin, often in quantities of 50 to 150 grams.  He also had access to kilogram quantities of cocaine and sometimes supplied cocaine to wholesale cocaine distributors in New London.

The investigation further revealed that Capellan Maldonado coordinated the shipment of heroin, and sometimes cocaine, via human couriers from the Dominican Republic to the United States.  He also obtained heroin from other sources in New York City and Rhode Island.

Capellan Maldonado, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, routinely sent thousands of dollars in drug proceeds back to the Dominican Republic.
The investigation further revealed that one of Capellan Maldonado’s associates, Enrique Luciano, also known as “Ipi,” supplied wholesale quantities of heroin and cocaine to Miguel Morales, also known as “Neow,” and others, who distributed heroin and cocaine to other wholesale distributors and street-level sellers in and around New London.

The Cocaine Conspiracy

(From a press release from the US Department of Justice)

As alleged, the investigation revealed that Pedro Rivera, also known as “Cheito,” of Groton, regularly obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine from sources in Puerto Rico.  Rivera’s trusted associate, Luis Zayas, also known as “Guichan,” of Waterford, also was involved in the procurement of cocaine.  

Rivera, Zayas and their associates used a variety of methods to transport the cocaine from Puerto Rico to the United States, including the U.S. mail.  Pedro Rivera and Zayas supplied other individuals, including Frankie Rivera, who used his business, PR Speedshop on Westwood Avenue in New London, to sell cocaine to street-level customers.

The investigation also identified Juan G. Cheverez, also known as “Guinchi,” of Groton as a narcotics trafficker who received kilogram-quantities of cocaine in the mail from Axel Matta Figueroa, also known as “Joelito,” in Puerto Rico.  At times, Cheverez also obtained cocaine from Luis Zayas.  Cheverez was assisted by others with distributing cocaine around New London and in transporting money to Puerto Rico.

The investigation further revealed that Oscar Valentin, also known as “Tato,” and his employees sold narcotics supplied by Pedro Rivera and others to customers from a garage Valentin managed at the intersection of Walker Street and Bristol Street in New London.


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