Nine men have been charged in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with distributing heroin and cocaine in Bristol County.

According to court documents, 43-year-old Luis Lopez of Tiverton and Fall River was the head of a drug trafficking organization that imported large amounts of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New Bedford and Fall River.

The cocaine shipments were coordinated through U.S. Mail with the help of 38-year-old Chindy Diaz of New Bedford and 39-year-old Israel Santiago of Fall River. Diaz and Santiago received cocaine-filled packages on Lopez's behalf and delivered them to his Fall River address. Lopez then sold the cocaine to other drug dealers, including 31-year-old Tyson Britto of Fall River.

All four individuals are charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

In a related investigation, federal agents learned that 39-year-old Sharik Mendes, the owner and operator of H.E.A.R.T. Boxing Gym in New Bedford, was allegedly receiving large shipments of heroin from at least two suppliers based in Providence. Prosecutors allege that Mendes hired 40-year-old Tyson Depina of New Bedford to distribute the heroin.

Intercepted phone calls revealed Depina was selling heroin to users and low-level dealers, and was giving Mendes $1,000 to $2,000 a day for the drugs. Depina was arrested in April for heroin possession.

Both Mendes and Pina are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Three unnamed people remain fugitives from justice.

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