Thats when K9 Titan sniffed out 5.5 pounds of heroin worth in excess of $693,000. 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. Someone whos responsible for this quantity of drugs is someone who is very, very trusted by the cartels, Bodner said. Los Angeles, one of nine cities targeted by Operation Crystal Shield, is a hub for drug traffickers because of the proximity to numerous freeways and airports. 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. The operation began in Fort Myers in early 2019 and focused on finding drug suppliers in the city, authorities said. Our very real concern with fentanyl is the deadly effects it has, said Ford. The clue? MELBOURNE, Fla. A four-month operation led to the discovery of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and more at a Brevard County home, according to the Melbourne Police Department. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. 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. Melbourne police say they seized heroin and cocaine from a home. More than $411 million worth of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded in Florida on Wednesday following a series of busts in international waters. 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. Four people were arrested Tuesday at a Naples home and are facing multiple drug charges. 2023 Cable News Network. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. A civilian budget analyst for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was arrested after committing retail theft at a Walmart on Wednesday, according to Polk County deputies. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Some nicotine-free e-cigarettes still have nicotine: lab report, NYC drug dealers hawk narcotics from van, driving up business for nearby injection sites, Bronx Tale star Lillo Brancato: Im clean and inspiring others after cop slay horror, Second drug dealer pleads guilty to selling actor Michael K. Williams fatal heroin dose. 27-year federal prison sentence for Florida man convicted in massive drug bust Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. The major drug bust happened in Avon Park, authorities say. Were really glad to get this off the streets of Bay County, Ford said. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced 85 people were arrested as a result of a wiretap drug bust investigation Friday morning. The massive stash included more than 23,000 pounds. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. 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. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford held a news conference about a large drug bust. (CNN) - As Texas Gov. Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto shop. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Florida Gov. Besides the meth, the DEA found more than 880 pounds of cocaine. Shea said that the capture of the drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, interrupted the Sinaloa Cartels operations, making room for rival Jalisco Cartel to rise and clash. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. 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 Warner Bros. MELBOURNE, Fla. - A four-month operation led to the discovery of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and more at a Brevard County home, according to the Melbourne Police Department. DEA images of the duffel bags the drugs were found in. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Florida Gov. According to the State Attorneys Office, the operation took place over the last several months. Aug 12, 2020. Judd. Now that doesnt sound like a lot, just 6.8 ounces. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. By. Ron DeSantis struck back at Disney World Monday, announcing forthcoming legislative action that would void a development agreement that enshrined the corporate giant's self-governing power. )], Judd said the investigation began in September 2020 when the sheriffs office received information a family in Winter Haven, identified as the Jefferson family, was smuggling large amounts of drugs into Florida from Mexico through California and then to the streets of Central Florida.. Example video title will go here for this video. "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. [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?]. Luis Izquierdo. 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Florida Gov. Authorities find 3,100 pounds of meth and other drugs hidden in truckload of medical supplies, These two seizures are more than enough to provide a dose of meth, for every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico. Both occupants of the vehicle, 33-year-old Maurilio Garcia-Torres and 19-year-old Ivania Riestra-Garcia were determined to be undocumented aliens from Mexico. Our K-9s can read.. The sheriff said a wiretap investigation began in February 2022. This was a very different kind of operation. . The investigation started in Sept. 2020 . You know its a tough time for everybody, he said. 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. So far, they have not filed charges. Orange County Sheriff, and other law enforcement agencies released information about a major drug bust involving Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Orlando. 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? The investigation was done by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. DEA, and the U.S. 7:33 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2020. A low level operative would not be trusted to hold $18 million of drugs in a house. 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. So these are high-level individuals.. 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. Note to self- do not traffic your illegal narcotics in bags labeled Bag Full Of Drugs, a Facebook post from the Sheriffs office read. 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We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. CNN A Florida traffic stop turned into a surprise narcotics bust after police found what looked to be a bag full of drugs in the car. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida K-9 helped make nearly a $700,000 drug bust during a traffic stop in Hernando County, troopers said. According to the Justice Department, between August 2021 and August 2022, 107,735 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, two-thirds primarily from fentanyl. Published Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Officials have detained suspects and will continue to make arrests as the investigation continues. Before that, the top years were in 1991 and 1992 during the crack cocaine epidemic, he said. . An Orlando man was arrested early Sunday after he shot and killed his girlfriend of eight years in the back, in what he claimed was self-defense, according to an arrest affidavit. MBI Director Ron Stucker described the bust as "one of the largest cocaine trafficking operations we've seen in Central Florida in three decades.". The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. During the press conference, Shea pointed to the pandemic for the rise in drug use and overdoses. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Those who were arrested had extensive criminal backgrounds, including previous arrests for murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, narcotics and more, according to officials. The seizure was part of the DEAs ongoing initiative Operation Crystal Shield, which is targeting cities where meth is often trafficked in bulk. Victor Manuel Hernandez was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for a narcotics conspiracy involving heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. CLERMONT, Fla. - Two people are behind bars after authorities in Lake County found drugs and firearms during a drug bust at a Clermont home. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to meth rose nearly 20%. Make no mistake, this is only the beginning, FMPD Chief Diggs said during the press conference. And you know some people turn to drugs to deal with that.. When authorities searched his car, they found 978 grams of meth. Law enforcement from the Clermont, Eustis, and . 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. These seizures are significant not just because of the sheer volume, but because its a sign of a deeply concerning trend meth is pouring into the United States through our southern border and is destroying too many communities and more importantly, too many lives, said Shea. As agents approached Hernandez at the complex, he tried to flee the scene but was placed in custody. Last month, Attorney General William Barr and Shea announced that in six months of the operation, agents seized more than 28,000 pounds of meth, $43.3 million in drug proceeds and 284 firearms. 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. According to the release, the trooper pulled over a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling southbound on I-75 near the 304 mile marker with a fraudulent Arizona license plate. "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. "That's. Postal Inspection Service. Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. 2 years Ago. 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. Made the big bust on Tuesday afternoon four people were arrested as a result of Fort... For her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts the city, authorities say said. Finding drug suppliers in the County 's history everybody, he said this is only the beginning, FMPD Diggs! Targeting cities where meth is often trafficked in bulk following a series of busts in international waters top... 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