New Bedford woman sentenced for her role in massive Bristol County fentanyl ring

(WLNE) — An alleged member of a massive fentanyl trafficking ring in Bristol County was sentenced to prison last week, prosecutors said.

Heather Cabral, 43, of New Bedford, pled guilty to trafficking fentanyl and two counts of conspiracy in Fall River Superior Court last Friday.

She was sentenced to serve four-and-a-half to seven years in state prison followed by two years of supervised probation.

Prosecutors say she was a “runner” for the Orlando Badillo Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization. The trafficking ring was dismantled in 2019 after an investigation led by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation was dubbed Operation Ghost.

Authorities said Badillo had to move his “stash house” from Fairhaven to New Bedford in April 2019.

Police say they set up surveillance cameras and saw Cabral make multiple drug transfers between the communities under Badillo’s instruction.

Police say she later texted Badillo “Everyone is all set. I’m keeping the backpack.”

Cabral was arrested after authorities found the backpack she was using at her Bluefield Street home.