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Naranjito Pill Press Pair: 7 Years for Fentanyl Trafficker
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Dalien Enrique Nieves-Santiago, 38, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, is headed to federal prison for seven years after admitting to a sophisticated fentanyl trafficking operation. U.S. District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll handed down the sentence today, along with a five-year term of supervised release. The case exposed a blatant disregard for public safety, with the pair importing the tools to manufacture counterfeit pills laced with the deadly opioid.
Nieves-Santiago pled guilty to possession of a punch and die set, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His wife, Zuleyka M. Santiago-Andino, 35, also pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possession of the pill press die and awaits sentencing. The duo was originally indicted on December 6, 2023, and entered guilty pleas on June 5, 2025, after a relentless investigation.
The unraveling began on April 14, 2023, when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the San Juan, Puerto Rico, port of entry flagged a suspicious package arriving from China. Routine inspection revealed a “pill die” set – a critical component in the manufacturing of counterfeit pills. Records showed Santiago-Andino had received a staggering twenty-three similar shipments from China between July 3, 2018, and April 8, 2023, all delivered to their Naranjito address. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took over, initiating a controlled delivery to further the investigation.
The seized pill die was marked with “M” and “30” – telltale signs it was intended for replicating Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets. A subsequent court-authorized search of the Nieves-Santiago residence uncovered a disturbing array of materials: approximately 2 kilograms of blue bonding agent, 302 grams of Xanax pills, and a small scale. But the operation wasn’t just about pills. Agents also recovered two loaded firearms – a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol and a .40 caliber Glock – alongside eleven and twelve rounds of ammunition, respectively, found chillingly close to over a thousand Xanax pills.
Lab analysis confirmed the true danger: the 1,037 white rectangular pills marked “Xanax” and “2” contained fentanyl, with a net weight of 286.51 grams. The blue bonding agent, totaling 1,921.15 grams, was identified as material used in the production of counterfeit Oxycodone Hydrochloride using the pill die. The operation was clearly geared toward large-scale production and distribution of potentially lethal narcotics.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), utilizing their respective Airport Investigations and Tactical Teams (AirTAT). Assistant United States Attorney Luis A. Valentin of the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crime Unit prosecuted the case, sending a clear message that those who profit from poisoning communities will face severe consequences.
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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