Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today announced the arrests of eight alleged co-conspirators in a Colombian drug syndicate that ran about a kilogram of cocaine each week through Boston, Chelsea, and Revere, with the operation’s alleged kingpin being held on $5 million dollars cash bail.

FERNEY PEREANEZ (D.O.B. 7/31/85), aka BENITO VALENTIN RIVERA, aka ALEXIS LANDA of East Boston was arraigned this afternoon following his indictment by a Suffolk County grand jury on charges of trafficking in more than 100 grams of cocaine, trafficking in more than 28 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws, and procuring a false Registry of Motor Vehicles document. Pereanez faces a mandatory 10-year state prison sentence if convicted on the lead trafficking charge.

“Today’s arrests come after two years of investigation into the workings of a Colombian drug syndicate operating throughout greater Boston,” Conley said. “They are the result of a wiretap operation so extensive that it required federal funding and at least three Spanish-speaking translators at any given time.”

State Police narcotics detectives assigned to Conley’s office took Pereanez into custody shortly after 6:00 this morning at his East Boston home. He was represented by attorney Robert Zanello.

Also arrested by Boston, Revere, and State police this morning and arraigned this afternoon were:

1. LUIS PEREANEZ (D.O.B. 2/2/84), aka ALFONSO MARTINEZ, aka JOSE CASIANO, aka ERIC VALDEZ, of Chelsea, charged with trafficking in more than 100 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and procuring a false RMV document, represented by attorney Harold Hakala and held on $1 million cash bail;

2. WILMAR ANDRES MEDINA (D.O.B. 5/16/82) of Revere, charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, represented by attorney Robert Zanello and held on $500,000 cash bail;

3. JULIO BURGADO (D.O.B. 6/7/84) of Roxbury, charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, represented by attorney Anthony Annino III and held on $100,000 cash bail;

4. CARLOS OSORTO (D.O.B. 12/28/82) of Chelsea, charged with two counts of distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, represented by attorney Alfred Farese and held on $50,000 cash bail;

5. BIVIANA LOTERO MONTOYA (D.O.B. 10/22/73), aka “MAMI” aka “FERNANDA,” of Revere, charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, represented by attorney Eliot Levine and held on $500,000 cash bail;

6. MARTHA GARCIA (D.O.B. 6/27/62) of Revere, charged with trafficking in more than 100 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, represented by attorney Eleftherios Travayiakis and held on $250,000 cash bail; and

7. MARITZA FRANCO (D.O.B. 9/17/82) of Revere, charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, represented by attorney T. Kernahan Buck and held on $25,000 cash bail.

Distribution of cocaine carries a maximum of ten years. Trafficking in 28 grams or more of cocaine carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in state prison. Trafficking in 100 grams or more of cocaine carries a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in state prison. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine carries a maximum of 20 years, while conspiracy to distribute cocaine carries a maximum of 10 years.

In addition to hailing Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Bucci, the top narcotics prosecutor who oversaw the two-year investigation, Conley noted the contributions of Boston Police, who conducted the wiretaps that led to Pereanez’ arrest; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which contributed financial resources and technical support; the Revere Police Department, which contributed personnel; and Massachusetts State Police from the Suffolk County Detective Unit and General Headquarters.

All eight defendants will return to court on April 26 for a pre-trial conference and to set the presumptive trial date.