3 brothers arrested in FBI drug trafficking sting

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Three Dominican brothers and a dozen other people have been arrested in New England as part of a federal investigation into alleged cocaine, fentanyl and heroin trafficking.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Thursday that the suspects ran a Rhode Island-based trafficking organization that imported drugs from Mexico and supplied them to street-level dealers in greater Providence, greater Boston and Connecticut.

Brothers Juan Valdez, 50, of Milton, Massachusetts; 47-year-old Hector, and 44-year-old Claudio, both living in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs and unlawful use of communication facilities to commit drug-related offenses. They’re also being charged with illegally returning to the United States after being deported to the Dominican Republic.

Twelve other people also face drug-related charges.

The federal public defenders’ office, which is representing the Valdez brothers, didn’t immediately return a call for comment.

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This story has been changed to correct Hector Valdez’s age to 47 instead of 57.