Heroin Trafficker From Dominican Republic Gets 20 Years In Prison

CONCORD, NH — The leader of a New England heroin trafficker cell based in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in January. Santos Guerrero Morillo, 39, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to federal prison due to his leadership role trafficking heroin in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Between May 2013, and October 2016, Morillo was responsible for distributing “multi-kilogram shipments of heroin and other drugs” with at least 10 other co-conspirators and cell members.

The group broke down the shipments into smaller units and distributed them to regional sub-distributors. The cell was involved in various roles related to the receipt, storage, and sale of the drugs, as well as laundering the proceeds.

In August 2015, Morillo fled Massachusetts for his native Dominican Republic but still directed subordinates from his home. Later, federal authorities requested his extradition. Dominican officials arrested him in February 2018, and he was brought to New Hampshire to face charges in June 2018.

Morillo pled guilty to the charge in January.

U.S. Attorney Scott Murray said prosecutors would not hesitate to reach into foreign countries to bring drug traffickers to justice.

“International narcotics traffickers seek to profit from the suffering of those who are addicted to heroin and other dangerous drugs,” he noted. “This case demonstrates the resolve of the law enforcement community in New Hampshire to hold drug traffickers accountable for the damage that they are causing in our state.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle noted that the state was “in the midst of a devastating opioid crisis (but) the DEA will continue to use every resource available to identify those, like Mr. Morillo, who are contributing to the crisis. (The) sentence not only holds Mr. Morillo accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”

The case was investigated by the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, Mass. and NH State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and police departments in Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, and Methuen, MA, and Manchester, NH, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force.