A Miami man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island for allegedly trafficking 37 kilograms of cocaine, according to Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Rafael Rivera, 33, faces one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. He was arraigned in federal court on November 17, 2025.
Charging documents state that in June 2025, Rivera used a rental vehicle to transport the cocaine from Miami, Florida to Smithfield, Rhode Island. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents stopped Rivera and seized the narcotics after he admitted to possessing them. Rivera was arrested at the scene.
"A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," the press release noted.
Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman is prosecuting the case. The DEA conducted the investigation.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America, which coordinates resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. The initiative aims to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
