⏱ 2 min read
A Dominican national, Starlin Alexander Valdez De Los Santos, 35, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl to New Hampshire residents while operating from abroad. The sentence was handed down in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire, after Valdez De Los Santos pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. The case is a result of a coordinated effort between the DEA, the Dominican Republic, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Valdez De Los Santos believed that by operating from abroad and using encrypted platforms, he could avoid detection by U.S. law enforcement. However, his sentence proves that this is not the case. The DEA and its partners have demonstrated their ability to pursue and prosecute individuals who engage in fentanyl trafficking, regardless of their location.
The fentanyl distributed by Valdez De Los Santos made its way into communities in New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Fentanyl trafficking is a serious threat to public safety, and the DEA remains committed to dismantling the international criminal networks responsible for fueling this crisis.
The sentence is a significant outcome in the ongoing effort to combat fentanyl trafficking in the United States. It sends a strong message to those who would engage in this type of activity that they will be pursued and held accountable, regardless of where they operate.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: New Hampshire
- Location: NH
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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