Five of the eight people were arrested for possession and intent to distribute meth. According to police, Starke and Lawtey Police Department officers arrested the eight individuals in various parts of the county in connection to the drug ring. WebA drug bust in Florida led to the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill at least 500,000 people, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. WebRecent Posts. Receive a detailed news briefing each morning and evening along with our Attractions Insider briefing on Fridays on our app, Investigators participate in a drug bust in Volusia County that took place Thursday and Friday. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of various narcotics and ties to a local drug house. DeSantis responds to St. Pete Mayor Kriseman's criticisms: 'How did I politicize red tide? Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: Serious public health alert. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. These young individuals are wasting their lives and risking the lives of others peddling this poison.. In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. The big scale when you look at it, and you look at the big picture, some would say its something we just cant beat, I dont believe that. We are going to go to every crevice, ever hole, every place where these individuals try to hide and we will root them out, he said. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this is one of the largest drug busts in LCSO history. Everything you need to know about Florida's theme parks and the all-new Attractions Insider podcast! MIAMI - South Florida federal prosecutors have charged the leader of a notorious Mexican drug cartel and five others for their alleged roles in importing into the United States over 500 kilograms of Mexican methamphetamine. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of various narcotics and ties to a local drug house. All rights reserved. Jul 23, 2021. Sign up below to be added to our mailing list for the latest news updates, access to exclusive contests, and more! By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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Despite 32 people being charged, only 29 have been arrested, according to the sheriff's office. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Ashonti Ford TV (@AshontiFordBN9) April 29, 2021 Investigators seized 1,416 pounds of crystallized and liquid meth with a street value of over $50 million. They also found $4,557 in cash inside the house. Brown had an active warrant for trafficking in heroin. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Stephanie Bryan of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Nevada Democrats face brewing civil war ahead of, Have a tax filing extension this year? Deputies say all illegal drug activity was traced to the Clay Hill and Middleburg areas and Operation Hammer and Hope was launched in an effort to fight against drugs and drug dealers in the area. Angela Dunklebarger, 49, Tavoris Jones, 37, and Reginald Phillips, 37, remain at large, according to law enforcement. If you are a drug dealer understand that we have a highly trained and professional team of patrol deputies and detectives who love our community and will not allow you to prey upon our children and families, Cook said. 01, 2021. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Local Gateway family busted with cocaine & fentanyl in major drug operation. You may be offline. "We put your tail in the county jail. 2023 www.tallahassee.com. TRENDING STORY: Gainesville man arrested for pulling gun on his brother. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Inside the vehicle, deputies located: Daniel Lamb was issued a criminal citation for Operating a Motor Vehicle with a suspended license and was released from the scene. and last updated 7:21 PM, May 13, 2021 LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. Cox Media Group. In a news conference, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken spoke about this drug epidemic in the city during the press conference. There will also be a no-questions-asked drug drop-off location. WebCLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriffs Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter. WebNOW PLAYING ABOVE. They hurt parents and siblings and spouses and most of all our children, Cook said. In total, nearly 30 pounds of cocaine, half a pound of meth, more than a pound of brown heroin, three ounces of black tar heroin, two ounces of Fentanyl, $330,000 in cash, nine firearms and three stolen vehicles were seized by investigators. One of the top suspects was murdered during the investigation, which began in June, and his son was charged in another murder. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge All rights reserved. While several arrests were made in Tallahassee, a large part of the operation ran through Gadsden County. During the investigation, detectives and agents executed search warrants at eight locations in southeast Polk County: Detectives filed 301 total felony and 134 total misdemeanor charges against the suspects during the investigation. One of the accounts was operated out of the Miami area and the other out of the Providence, Rhode Island, area.. Additionally, more than 10 grams of Fentanyl, 7.4 grams of Methamphetamines, Hydromorphone pills, Cannabis and several loaded syringes containing Fentanyl were discovered. There were more than 100 charges from the cases, including over 80 felonies. He allegedly had multiple "stash houses" in town that were raided by police who discovered drugs, cash and guns. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Dauphin Island? (Volusia County Sheriff's Office), California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said a long-term drug investigation took down a major drug distribution ring in Jacksonville consisting of 27 arrests. The two drugs that we were keying in on which was the crystal meth and also the fenatyl. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Director of UDEST, Captain Jason Douglas said he wont stop. Copyright 2021 WCJB. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. More than 100 people have been arrested in the U.S., Europe and Australia in connection with a worldwide drug trafficking investigation stemming from sales on the Darknet. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, who has championed a regional approach to curbing illegal drug activity, said law enforcement would remain relentless in pursuing people who bring harm to the community. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. They cause crime, that crime creates additional victims. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. Authorities also identified other co-conspirators and carried out search warrants for each person, which resulted in the seizure of $770,000, one weapon and about 3.5 kilograms of pressed fentanyl. Copyright 2021 WCJB. They were also perpetrators of violence, Perez said. Inside the home, they found cocaine, heroin, Oxycodone, MDMA, Tramadol, marijuana, Fentanyl, handguns and drug paraphernalia. WebThe drug bust was reportedly sparked by two recent homicides in the area. WebUpdated: 6:28 PM EST December 6, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. More than $18,000 worth of drugs were removed from the streets of Citrus County during a recent drug bust Following a 16-month undercover investigation, Polk County Sheriffs Office undercover Narcotics detectives and the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) task force made 29 arrests in the Lake Wales area and obtained three arrest warrants related to the trafficking, sale, and possession of illegal narcotics. According to the sheriff's office, the group was attempting to traffic drugs with a total street value of $283,820. Perez said as part of acriminal enterprise, many covered their illegal dealings through seemingly legitimate businesses such as recording studios, entertainment venues, trucking companies and auto body shops. According to authorities, U.S. authorities teamed up with Europol to make the Operation Dark HunTor arrests. Sheriff Grady Judd is speaking to the media in regards to Operation: Bell Gang Blues, a drug trafficking investigation in Lake Wales that netted 29 suspects, and arrest warrants for three others. Officials said that the arrest of Noah Francis in Summerfield was their biggest bust of the bunch, as they were able to recover two kilograms of fentanyl, the drug that is most commonly the cause of over dose deaths. PENSACOLA, Fla (WKRG) The Escambia County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT Team arrested two men at a home at 2987 Michael Drive and theyre facing several drug charges. Share currently playing on Facebook (Opens a new window), Share currently playing on Twitter (Opens a new window), Jacksonvilles Morning News with Rich Jones, Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories, SPOTLIGHT: Gate River Run kicks off first weekend in March, Alaska's arduous Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Election conspiracies fuel dispute over voter fraud system, NFL combine 2023 tracker: QBs take stage for 40-yard dash, throwing portion, You Decide 2023 - The Race For Jacksonville Mayor - LeAnna Cumber Spotlight, You Decide 2023 - The Race For Jacksonville Mayor - Daniel Davis Spotlight, You Decide 2023 - The Race For Jacksonville Mayor - Omega Allen Spotlight. On April 29 and 30 deputies and investigators hit areas in DeLand and Deltona. One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. The sheriff said, during their investigation, deputies discovered there were three key players behind the drug trafficking. Gabriel Cossio, Gabriel Cossio Jr., Melissa Cossio, Jesus Cossio, Aaron Pruitt, and Christopher Ramirez were all arrested on drug charges. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Gulf Shores? Deputies approaching a vehicle interrupted a passenger attempting to inject Heroin during a traffic stop. Authorities said Spencer, Dawodu and Alex Ogando, 35, of Providence, Rhode Island, advertised and sold pressed fentanyl pills throughout the U.S. Samantha Mathers is a digital reporter and content creator for Action News Jax. A 9mm handgun was also seized during the operation, investigators said. Closed for business, Traffic stop leads to drug bust on local trap house March 2, 2023; Man arrested after scheduling meetup with minor for sex February 27, On April 29 Gateway family busted with cocaine & fentanyl in major drug operation, North Port man crashed through FHP homicide investigation, Motorcyclist dead after crash at Fort Myers shopping center. Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. He said much of the violent activity connected to the drug ring happened in the rural county west of Tallahassee. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 150 people were arrested, including two people from South Florida. The fentayl is really bad right now.. Out of those 900 cases, 119 people lost their lives. Perez said suspects would come to Tallahassee to conduct business then hide out in Gadsden where there are fewer law enforcement resources. The vehicle traveled down Veterans Blvd until a deputy was able to make a traffic stop. All 32 people said to be involved in the drug trafficking operation face a total of 301 felonies and 134 misdemeanors. Two men from South Florida are among more than 100 people who were recently arrested in connection with a Darknet drug trafficking bust. The drug busts, which started at 4 a.m. on Monday, took place at the Budget Inn and Bradford Inn, which are both located along Hwy 301, and in a residential area on North Pine Street which is located off of SR 16. Authorities said they took down DarkMarket, the worlds then-largest illegal marketplace on the Darknet, in January and international law enforcement agencies identified various Darknet drug vendors and buyers who engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit good and services across Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Spencer, Dawodu and Ogandoare charged in the District of Columbia withconspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. This afternoon Im at @ocalapd for a press conference with UDEST to speak on the opioid epidemic and the arrest of 83 people involved with drugs in Marion Co. @WCJB20 @MCSOFlorida pic.twitter.com/3qW2x9taCc. Narcotics detectives also located 24 Buprenorphine films inside the vehicle Kellie Coe was driving. During the search warrant a plethora of drug paraphernalia was located including hundreds of used drug baggies and syringes. The following drugs were recovered by deputies: Sheriff Cook says drugs are a real problem in Clay County, with over 500 drug-related arrests and 23 confirmed overdose deaths in 2021 so far. Investigators said the arrests included charges of armed trafficking in fentanyl, armed trafficking in oxycodone, possession of methamphetamine, and the sale and delivery of crack cocaine. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. On March 1, 2023, Narcotics Detectives investigating several overdoses connected to 480 Fletcher Street Judd said James McClain, 34, was a major distributor of methamphetamines and marijuana in the Lake Wales area. Coast Guard offloads record $1.4 billion worth of cocaine and marijuana at Florida port By Peter Martinez August 6, 2021 / 7:49 AM / CBS News The U.S. Coast Guard What is a COVID-19 vaccine 'breakthrough' case? Tune in to FOX 35 Orlando for the latest Central 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. As the deputy approached, he observed Ketchum with a loaded syringe in her hand attempting to inject herself with a substance testing positive for Heroin. Two men from South Florida are among more than 100 people who were recently arrested in connection with a Darknet drug trafficking bust. LAKE WALES, Fla. Thirty-two people are facing dozens of charges following a $283,000 drug trafficking bust in Polk County, the sheriff's office said. We will never know the lives saved through this investigation.. All rights reserved. There are also plans to hand over those cases to the Office of the State Attorney after each investigation is done, with the intention of securing manslaughter indictments. During a press conference Thursday morning, Judd said earlier this year the Polk County Sheriffs Office High Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. PCSO charges 32 suspects during Operation Bell Gang Blues, a 16-month investigation of Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. WebLAKE COUNTY, Fla. A man from Lake County could face life in prison after getting arrested on federal drug conspiracy charges, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. A collaborative of law enforcement officials announced the arrests after nearly a year of work, which allegedlybrought down major players and street level dealers who operated in Leon and Gadsden counties but had connections to California, Georgia and Texas. By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV November 19, 2021 at 7:22 pm EST Thirteen people were arrested Thursday and more than $1 million were seized in a major drug bust that stretched from Athens to Atlanta. The suspects from South Florida were identified by authorities as Luis Spencer, 31, and Olatunji Dawodu, 36, both of who are from Fort Lauderdale.