Man arrested in connection to Taunton, Fall River drug trafficking ring

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Friday that another man was arrested earlier this week in connection to a Bristol County drug trafficking ring.

District Attorney Thomas Quinn said that on May 23, the “Operation Shore Thing” task force was able to track Antonio Valdez from his Dorchester home to Fall River.

Valdez, who’s accused of being one of the suppliers of the “sophisticated” fentanyl trafficking ring, was then arrested while in possession of 21 grams of fentanyl, two grams of cocaine, and multiple oxycodone pills.

The suspect, who’s 44 years old, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking oxycodone, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The trafficking ring, according to Quinn, took place around Taunton and Fall River. Two weeks ago, the district attorney’s office said six members of the ring were arrested.

“Operation Shore Thing” was a year-long multi-jurisdictional investigation into drug trafficking in and around Taunton and Fall River. Quinn said that about $350,000 worth of fentanyl and oxycodone have been confiscated.