CONCORD – Starlin Alexander Valdez De Los Santos, 35, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced on July 23 to seven years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl in Hudson.

His sentence will be followed by four years of supervised release.

According to court documents, the Hudson Police Department was investigating an overdose death in August 2021. During the investigation, detectives recovered evidence from the victim’s phone which included a Facebook page and an encrypted mobile messaging app linked to a phone number in the Dominican Republic.

In July 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the Facebook page and the mobile messaging app. DEA agents ultimately discovered that Valdez De Los Santos was running a massive drug distribution operation from the Dominican Republic with software designed to avoid detection by law enforcement.

“Fentanyl trafficking is a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Hudson Police Chief David Cayot. “This case reflects the effective partnership between the Hudson Police Department and our federal partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration. We remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those who distribute dangerous narcotics in Hudson.”

Agents ultimately seized more than two pounds of fentanyl during a series of undercover purchases from 2022 to 2025.

On Jan. 5 of this year, Valdez De Los Santos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

“This case demonstrates that drug traffickers operating beyond our borders are not beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement,” said Jarod Forget, special agent in charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division. “Those who choose to supply fentanyl into the United States, regardless of where they hide, should know that the DEA and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue them and hold them accountable. The fentanyl distributed by this defendant made its way into communities in New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Every kilogram of fentanyl trafficked into our country has the potential to cause devastating loss, and we remain committed to dismantling the international criminal networks responsible for fueling this public safety crisis.”