Lawrence Man Faces Fentanyl Drug Dealing Charges After ‘Operation Tie Dye’ Raid

A search of Soto Soto’s home resulted in seizure of approximately 4.25 additional kilograms of suspected fentanyl, several different sized pressers, various cutting agents, $9,000 in U.S. currency and Soto Soto’s Dominican Republic passport. (Courtesy photograph.)

A 48-year-old Lawrence man faces drug charges after a narcotics raid uncovered 4.4 million milligrams of fentanyl—said to be enough to potentially cause 2.2 million overdose deaths.

Alonzo Del Carmen Soto Soto was recently charged with trafficking fentanyl over 100 grams and trafficking fentanyl over 200 grams. He was arraigned in Lawrence District Court and is being held on $100,000 bail. The Massachusetts attorney general’s office said this week “Operation Tie Dye,” described as “major narcotics takedown operation,” began last October.

“Throughout the months-long investigation, (State Police) troopers conducted a series of nine controlled fentanyl purchases from Soto Soto. Extensive surveillance and review of cell phone data revealed that Soto Soto lived on Arlington Street in Lawrence, and investigators subsequently applied for and obtained search warrants for Soto Soto and his residence,” a release reported.

Soto Soto was arrested in January outside of his home after he ran from investigators and allegedly discarded a bag containing about nine grams of cocaine and 15 compressed cylinders, commonly referred to as “fingers,” of suspected fentanyl that weighed approximately 138 grams. A later search of Soto Soto’s home resulted in seizure of approximately 4.25 additional kilograms of suspected fentanyl, several different sized pressers, various cutting agents, $9,000 in U.S. currency and Soto Soto’s Dominican Republic passport.

The attorney general said the operation began when a source indicated Soto Soto was distributing trafficking amounts of fentanyl in the Lawrence area. Investigation into the allegations included members of the Massachusetts State Police, attorney general’s Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, State Police’s Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team and the Methuen Police Department.

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