Officials said additional charges were pending the results of lab tests. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DEA images of the duffel bags the drugs were found in. CNN Eighty-five suspects were arrested and over $12.8 million in drugs were confiscated in a two-year undercover drug trafficking investigation, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said on. 2 years Ago. What DeSantis is proposing for Disneys land after latest barb with corporate kingdom, 7 Orlando area restaurants with stunning waterfront views, 'I HAD TO FIRE SHOTS': Orlando man accused of shooting girlfriend in back, killing her. Judd said 85 people were arrested as a result of the investigation and authorities seized 268 pounds of methamphetamine and 6.8 ounces of fentanyl. Thats when police said they found the narcotics there were approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, 1.36 kilograms of GHB, 1 gram of cocaine, 3.6 grams of fentanyl, 15 MDMA tablets and drug paraphernalia. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. There were also 49 firearms seized and all kinds of other assorted drugs and pills worth $12.8 million, the sheriff said. Director Stucker said 2022 marked the third-largest amount of cocaine that MBI had seized in its history. Our K-9s can read.. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. During the press conference, Shea pointed to the pandemic for the rise in drug use and overdoses. According to court documents, Jorge Sanchez Morales aka "Capulina," 47, ran a drug trafficking organization, spanning from Mexico to El Paso and on to. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Were really glad to get this off the streets of Bay County, Ford said. Officials said three men Xavier Ramos Rosado, Carlos Miguel Velez Olivencia, and Michael Gonzalez Mendez were the lead directors of the alleged drug operation. Postal Service and other private carriers to ship cocaine from Puerto Rico to Central Florida, and then distribute it here and up the Eastern Coast, including Maine and New Jersey. The drugs in that bust were seized at the Otay Mesa port of entry to San Diego. If you look at our org chart there, youll notice that theres kind of three distinct groups of people, he said. The DEAs focus is to interrupt the drug transportation chain in the cities that account for 75% distribution of all meth distributed in the country, Shea said. The investigation was done by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. DEA, and the U.S. Between the fiscal years 2017-2019, DEA domestic seizures of meth increased 127% from 49,507 pounds to 112,146 pounds, according to the DEA. They arrested 18 people, many who face charges of selling or buying drugs. according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. Both were arrested and delivered to the Hernando County Jail, charged with heroin trafficking, distribution of heroin and possession of a vehicle for drug trafficking. That 1,600 grams of fentanyl is enough to kill 800,000, which is nearly every person from Escambia and the neighboring county, Walton, WEAR reported. The drugs were seized on October 2. A Warner Bros. 7:33 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2020. The Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release Tuesday night that K-9 Titan and a trooper made the big bust on Tuesday afternoon. Approximately $350,000 in cash was involved, authorities said. Over $649,665 in illegal drugs have been taken off the streets of Southwest Florida due to the sting, authorities said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. On Aug. 5 . As agents approached Hernandez at the complex, he tried to flee the scene but was placed in custody. Credit: Sarasota Police Department The seizure was part of the DEAs ongoing initiative Operation Crystal Shield, which is targeting cities where meth is often trafficked in bulk. "The members of this organization are accused of trafficking hundreds of kilos of cocaine into and through Central Florida," he told reporters during a press conference on Thursday afternoon. Deputies discovered in total: 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine 1.8 ounces of fentanyl 3 fentanyl patches 1.5 ounces of heroin 3 pounds of hashish 6.15 pounds of cannabis 11 vials of HGH Steroids. The amount of opiates seized were "enough to kill every single resident of Brevard County," which has an estimated population of about 590,000 people, according to police. Orlando International Airport raises parking prices | Win tickets to watch Artemis 1 rocket launch | Video shows large gator eating another alligator in Silver Springs | Become a News 6 Insider (its free! According to the Houston Chronicle, among the posts by Perry was a June 2020 one where Perry compared the "Black Lives Matter movement to . How safe is travel to Mexico and Central America? 2. A Sheriffs K-9 arrived at the scene and alerted police to the presence of contraband inside. The 104 arrest warrants concluded a months-long investigation by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office into an organization suspected of "distributing kilogram quantities" of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl -- a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, police said. According to the State Attorney's Office, the operation took place over the last several months. The massive stash included more than 23,000 pounds of cocaine and 8,800 pounds of pot, which was dumped by the US Coast Guard Cutter James at Port Everglades. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. A Florida man is in custody after detectives made what may be the largest marijuana bust in the countys history estimated to be worth millions, according to the Lake County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Postal Inspection Service. The DEA, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota Police Department and Bradenton Police Department investigated this case. Florida. A Transportation Security Administration spokesperson said the agencys screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. The major drug bust happened in Avon Park, authorities say. Now that doesnt sound like a lot, just 6.8 ounces. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to meth rose nearly 20%. 11 Charged in 2-Year Investigation Into Bay Area, Central Florida Drug Ring By Dave Jordan Hillsborough County PUBLISHED 12:10 PM ET Sep. 03, 2020 PUBLISHED 12:10 PM EDT Sep. 03, 2020 In that case, the driver, a 47-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over to a joint federal agency investigative team, according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. Thanks for contacting us. Police seized multiple vehicles, drugs, and over $100,000 in cash during an early morning drug bust in Clermont on Friday according to a Lake . BARTOW, FLORIDA Three Southwest Georgia women are charged with trafficking in large amounts of methamphetamine, along with other offenses, in Central Florida. Judd. Other contraband was seized during 20 interdictions of suspected drug smuggling ships by eight American and UK vessels, the Coast Guard said. Discovery Company. Several law enforcement agencies including the Orlando Police Department, Osceola County Sheriffs Office and U.S. Border Patrol worked together to focus on taking down the drug-trafficking organization. . Thats a significant amount of meth, Timothy Shea, the DEAs acting administrator, said at a press conference on Wednesday. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. OK, great. appreciated. Kari Belcher, 40, Christopher Belcher, 36, Derrick Higginbotham, 39, and Mary . Law enforcement from the Clermont, Eustis, and . This is enough dope to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico, Shea said. The sheriff said the drugs were smuggled in suitcases through domestic flights from LAX. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". The street value of drugs confiscated by Florida authorities is over $12.8 Million. 5:39 PM EST, Tue February 4, 2020. All in all, police said they seized 14 grams of cocaine, 4 grams of heroin, 21.8 grams of fentanyl, two MDMA tablets, 2.1 grams of an unknown substance that is being tested and other drug paraphernalia. The operation began in Fort Myers in early 2019 and focused on finding drug suppliers in the city, authorities said. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Residents want St. Petersburg leaders to restore, Odd spiral appears amid northern lights in Alaska, Pinellas County releases new proposed school times, Lawmakers and religious leaders vow to fight 6-week, Parents, experts, DCF debate staffing crisis with, Rep. Kathy Castor creates welcome center for migrants, I-275 lanes near Skyway Bridge reopened after vehicle, Used car shopping? Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. NAPLES, Fla.-. Officials have detained suspects and will continue to make arrests as the investigation continues. Victor Manuel Hernandez was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for a narcotics conspiracy involving heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. While out on bond, officials later learned that Hernandez was still trafficking narcotics. More than $411 million worth of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded in Florida on Wednesday following a series of busts in international waters. 2023 Cable News Network. Police in Florida issued arrest warrants for over 100 members of a suspected drug gang on Wednesday and seized enough fentanyl to wipe out a large county. Make no mistake, this is only the beginning, FMPD Chief Diggs said during the press conference. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said investigators uncovered 75 firearms, 9 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of fentanyl and an undisclosed amount of heroin. Cornell Weaver, Brenda Sawyer and Kristina Lee are facing drug-related charges in connection with the investigation. You think LAX just got a drug smuggling problem at the airport? Discovery Company. In total, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 79.2 pounds of meth, 1.3 kilograms of heroin, 756 grams of cocaine, 15 firearms and $408,692 in cash. [TRENDING: How much? More than $411 million worth of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded in Florida on Wednesday following a series of busts in international waters. And you know some people turn to drugs to deal with that.. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Federal and state officials said more than 339 kilos or 700 pounds of cocaine was seized and 35 people arrested in an international drug trafficking ring that shipped and distributed the drugs in Central Florida, and along the U.S. Eastern Coast. By. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month, the largest haul in the agency's history domestically, according to officials. Note to self- do not traffic your illegal narcotics in bags labeled Bag Full Of Drugs, a Facebook post from the Sheriffs office read. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. -. Additionally, two rifles were found, both belonging to Hernandez. The massive stash included more than 23,000 pounds. A Drug trafficking organization was dismantled after federal officials arrested 35 people for sending drugs from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico into Orlando. A once-standout U.S. narcotics agent has admitted conspiring to launder money with a Colombian drug cartel. We bought and made predicate cases for the wiretap throughout the two ensuing years, but we couldnt get to the top and link the organization together. A search warrant was executed Thursday at the home on Van Buren Street in North Melbourne. Its a massive amount.. The clue? (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Detectives said the organization was obtaining large quantities of drugs from overseas and distributing them throughout Brevard County, which is about 50 miles east of Orlando. Before that, the top years were in 1991 and 1992 during the crack cocaine epidemic, he said. appreciated. So far, they have not filed charges. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, 41 arrested, over $600K in illegal drugs seized in multi-agency drug sting, Naples man sentenced to 25 years in prison for producing child porn, Cape Coral man arrested for trafficking slew of drugs on numerous occasions, University of Florida announces it will allow fans at football games at 20% capacity, Forecast: Quieter and less humid weather tomorrow, NBC2 tours destroyed Fort Myers Beach Town Hall before its torn down, Cape Coral man killed following early morning hit-and-run, Cape Coral retail center closes due to flooding. Ford and other deputies said Mendez was arrested after a traffic incident that began when Mendez almost hit a deputy while driving through Bay County. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month, the largest haul in the agencys history domestically, according to officials. Copyright 2020 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Nearly 200 people die. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. Postal Service to ship cocaine through the islands and states. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - The Polk County Sheriff's Office has arrested 20 people and obtained a warrant for another arrest in an undercover sting focusing on drug deals in the Fort Meade area. The Lee County Sheriffs Office, Cape Coral Police Department, Collier County Sheriffs Office, Charlotte County Sheriffs Office, Hendry County Sheriffs Office, Glades County Sheriffs Office, Fort Myers Police Department and the Lee County Port Authority all worked together through the Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, which formed in late 2019. Investigators said they have arrested Amador Mendez Jr., 33, and charged him with trafficking fentanyl, possession of meth and fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers. A multi-agency investigation uncovered an international smuggling operation out of Winter Haven that brought drugs into Central Florida, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. Here are seven restaurants within Central Florida that provide meals, drinks and stunning waterfront views. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. But according to our DEA partners, 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a deadly overdose. "The amount of cocaine coming into Central Florida over the last couple years has actually driven down the price of bulk cocaine by approximately one third," he said. It just wouldnt happen. Check out her best picks before buying anything. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. - A total of 15 defendants have been indicted on federal drug-trafficking charges and an additional 29 co-conspirators face state drug-trafficking charges as a result of a multi-agency effort to bring down an organized drug trafficking operation in North Florida. [TRENDING: DeSantis to lift restaurant limits in Fla. | Heres how to track your mail-in ballot | How can I tell difference between flu and COVID-19?]. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. "Arrest warrants were issued for each of the 100 suspects who have been identified throughout the course of the investigation as sources or distributors of these deadly drugs," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Check out her best picks before buying anything. 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