RI State Police seize 908 grams of Heroin, 229 grams of Fentanyl and $82,550

Johnston man one of three arrested for drug trafficking and failing to report a death

During search, task force discovers dead woman in North Providence home

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The Rhode Island State Police (RISP) have arrested three suspects and discovered a dead body following a task force raid in North Providence.

The RISP’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force arrested three after a month-long investigation, according to state police.

The three suspects, a pair from Providence and a Johnston man, were taken into custody on Wednesday. While searching a North Providence residence, the task force also discovered the body of a woman they believe died from an overdose.

The HIDTA Task Force executed court-authorized search warrants at three separate locations: 20 Metcalf Ave. in North Providence, 113 Sisson St. in Providence, and 716 Central Ave. in Johnston.

After gaining entry to the 20 Metcalf Ave. home in North Providence, “members of HIDTA found a deceased female within the residence,” according to State Police.

“Members also located a significant heroin and fentanyl processing operation at this address,” according to a RISP press release. “Members of the Department of the Attorney General's Office, the RISP Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Service Unit responded to assist with the processing and collection of evidence on scene.”

"I want to applaud our HIDTA task force and our partners at the Attorney General's office for their work in this investigation," said Col. Darnell S. Weaver, RISP Superintendent and Director of the state’s Department of Public Safety. “They work hard every day to take deadly drugs off the street and these arrests make our communities safer.”

The following items were seized during the warrant searches: kilogram presses, stamps, and molds; digital scales and packaging material for redistribution; 908 grams of Heroin; 229 grams of Fentanyl; and $82,550 in US Currency.

“It was determined that Noel Ignacio Moronta,  41, of 113 Sisson St., Providence; Nelson A. Reyes, 38, of 716 Central Ave., Johnston; and Marien Solano, 36, of 113 Sisson St., Providence all failed to report the death of the decedent, who is suspected to have died of an overdose,” according to state police. “All three subjects were also identified to be involved in the manufacture, and/or possession with the intent to deliver significant amounts of illegal narcotics as outlined above. All were charged as co-conspirators with possession with intent to deliver (fentanyl, heroin), controlled substance conspiracy and failure to report a death with the intention to conceal a crime.”

Moronta, Reyes and Solano were transported to the Lincoln Woods Barracks and processed. The defendants were formally arraigned on Wednesday, April 5, at 6th Division District Court, where they were held without bail, according to state police.

The HIDTA Task Force includes state troopers,  DEA Providence District Office, Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program participants, and members of the following municipal police departments: Providence, North Providence, Lincoln, Middletown, Bristol and Narragansett.

Arraignment information on the three suspects was not yet available. This story will be updated. 

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