CONCORD – Niulmi Baez, 26, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced on Aug. 3 to 10 years in prison for distributing nearly 700 grams of fentanyl.

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

According to U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan’s Office, from November 2021 to June 2022, an undercover officer made a series of controlled purchases from Baez, who also worked with an accomplice, Hamet Badia.

In June 2022, the officer arranged for the purchase of 400 grams of fentanyl and 200 oxycodone pills that were laced with fentanyl. Baez told the officer that his “brother” would arrive in an Uber and that he would follow a few minutes later.

Upon arrival, Badia gave the drugs to Baez, who gave them to the officer in exchange for a bag of fake U.S. currency.

Following the transaction, Baez returned to the Dominican Republic. Law enforcement later learned that Baez would be returning to Boston on Oct. 2, 2025. He was taken into custody upon arrival at Logan International Airport.

On April 6 of this year, Baez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Badia was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the operation.

Creegan said President Donald Trump has declared fentanyl to be a “weapon of mass destruction.” According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two pounds is enough to kill half a million people. It remains the leading cause of fatal overdoses in the U.S.

“It is a drug that has wreaked havoc across communities in New Hampshire and states all over the country,” said Creegan. “We are doing everything in our power to disrupt the illicit drug trade and hold those who traffic this deadly substance accountable. This sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime committed, and the need to protect the public.”