Three Dark Web Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced in “Operation Denial”

Washington, D.C. – The multi-agency drug enforcement initiative “Operation Denial” has led to the sentencing of three foreign nationals for their involvement in an international fentanyl distribution ring. The ring was responsible for 15 overdoses in the United States. Four of the overdoses were fatal, while the remaining 11 resulted in serious bodily injury.

On July 25, 2023, Daniel Vivas Ceron (43) of Colombia was sentenced to 27 years in prison. While already in prison in Quebec, Canada, Ceron used a smuggled cell phone to lead and organize the international criminal enterprise. With assistance from co-conspirator Jason Joey Berry (40) of Montreal, Canada, Ceron arranged shipments of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs from China to Canada. The drugs ultimately made their way to North Dakota, causing the 2015 overdose deaths of four U.S. residents, including 18-year-old Bailey Henke of Grand Forks, ND.

Berry was sentenced on July 24, 2023, to 24 years in prison for coordinating fentanyl shipments from China to Canada and further distribution to the U.S. On July 17, 2023, a third co-conspirator, Xuan Cahn Nguyen (43) of Point-Aux-Tremble, Quebec, was sentenced for his role in the trafficking ring. Nguyen assisted with drug distribution and the collection of narcotics proceeds.

“These sentencings bring long-awaited justice to the family of Baily Henke and the many other victims in this case,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the Denver Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service relentlessly pursues all leads into the trafficking of this deadly drug. We are proud to collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of North Dakota, Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and other law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and ensure the safety of the American public.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Denver Division (Fargo Domicile) was instrumental in this case, conducting covert operations, locating the origin of a mailpiece involved with a fatal overdose, and ultimately arresting the shipper of that package.

Operation Denial has so far resulted in nearly $1 million in forfeited cash and property, as well as an additional 31 defendants charged in the District of North Dakota and three more in the District of Oregon.