FALL RIVER, Mass. — A Fall River man and his wife are among 18 people arrested following a major drug trafficking investigation that targeted operations in Fall River and Taunton.
The Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team (CINRET) began investigating the operation in March 2024. During the course of the investigation, Ramon Nieves and his wife, Esther, were identified as suspected drug suppliers.
In April, authorities executed a coordinated sweep, deploying hundreds of officers to conduct searches at 20 locations and 10 vehicles across the region. The large-scale bust led to the arrests of 18 individuals.
Among the items seized:
2,360 grams of cocaine
1,365 grams of fentanyl
33 firearms
Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
High-capacity magazines
$109,355 in cash
On August 1, investigators secured additional search warrants targeting three apartments in Fall River and a vehicle believed to be used by the Nieves couple for drug transportation. That search led to the seizure of:
3,195 grams of fentanyl
$8,000 in cash
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities anticipate additional charges as evidence continues to be processed.
