Updated: 1:49 PM EDT September 28, 2020 AVON PARK, Fla. A traffic stop led to one of the largest . Residue amounts can be fatal.. 5:39 PM EST, Tue February 4, 2020. The sheriff said a wiretap investigation began in February 2022. POLK COUNTY, Fla. 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. The fatal shooting of a 17-year-old in Haines City last week is believed to be connected to another shooting that occurred minutes earlier that same day, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. 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. 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. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. Law enforcement officers seized over $36,000 worth of drugs, multiple vehicles, and over $100,000 in cash during drug bust in Clermont, Florida. 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. 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. I believe that they do and they need to address it, he said. Orange County Sheriff, and other law enforcement agencies released information about a major drug bust involving Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Orlando. SOUTHWEST Fla. Forty-one people were arrested over the last 36 hours in a drug sting involving several Southwest Florida agencies. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. How safe is travel to Mexico and Central America? Director Stucker said 2022 marked the third-largest amount of cocaine that MBI had seized in its history. Were really glad to get this off the streets of Bay County, Ford said. Florida Gov. According to the State Attorneys Office, the operation took place over the last several months. But according to our DEA partners, 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a deadly overdose. 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. 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. 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. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced 85 people were arrested as a result of a wiretap drug bust investigation Friday morning. Melbourne police say they seized heroin and cocaine from a home. Victor Manuel Hernandez was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for a narcotics conspiracy involving heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Copyright 2020 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. 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. 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. Thats when K9 Titan sniffed out 5.5 pounds of heroin worth in excess of $693,000. EL PASO, Texas - The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso Thursday to life in prison. Note to self- do not traffic your illegal narcotics in bags labeled Bag Full Of Drugs, a Facebook post from the Sheriffs office read. 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. "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. During the press conference, Shea mentioned last weeks second-largest border seizure of meth in which federal agents confiscated more than 3,000 pounds of meth, heroin, fentanyl powder, and pills laced with fentanyl. 7:33 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2020. 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? More than $411 million worth of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded in Florida on Wednesday following a series of busts in international waters. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "That's. 2023 Cable News Network. Law enforcement from the Clermont, Eustis, and . News Nation. 2. The sheriff said the drugs were smuggled in suitcases through domestic flights from LAX. The concern there is that they are very violent and theyre very aggressive and they are largely responsible for much of the meth in this country, said Shea. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Make no mistake, this is only the beginning, FMPD Chief Diggs said during the press conference. 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. according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. 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 clue? Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. Nearly 200 people die. Four of the people arrested are out on bond as of Thursday night. 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. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Now that doesnt sound like a lot, just 6.8 ounces. 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. Polk. If you look at our org chart there, youll notice that theres kind of three distinct groups of people, he said. 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. He added that treatment options for addicts and people struggling have been limited due to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus. On one occasion on one airline, six suitcases with this drug was smuggled into Orlando. 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. Four others are still on the run. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. Officials also seized 25 guns and fentanyl, a highly potent --and deadly synthetic opioid. It means that 6.8 ounces of fentanyl could have killed up to 96,000 people, Judd said. 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. Bill Bodner, DEA special agent in charge for the Los Angeles field division, said the suspects at the Perris stash house are likely big players with the cartels. 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. A low level operative would not be trusted to hold $18 million of drugs in a house. [TRENDING: How much? Deputies are looking for a hit-and-run driver after a crash Sunday night seriously injured a 67-year-old motorcyclist in Winter Haven. Drugs: Fentanyl Alprazolam (Xanax) Cannabis Cocaine (powder) Cocaine (crack) Heroin Hydromorphone Hydrocodone MDMA Methamphetamine Methadone Oxycodone Weapons and ammo: 6 handguns (2 stolen) A Tech. 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. Ford gave details on a significant seizure of 235,000 milligrams fentanyl that took place this morning in Bay County. Officials said three men Xavier Ramos Rosado, Carlos Miguel Velez Olivencia, and Michael Gonzalez Mendez were the lead directors of the alleged drug operation. An EF-0 tornado damaged between 25 and 30 homes when it touched down in Brevard County as strong storms moved through the area on Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed after sending a team to survey the damage left behind on Monday. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Coast Guard authorities said the drugs were intercepted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. Investigators said 29 people are facing state d 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. Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto shop. He added that the substance is often mixed with other drugs and that it often leads to overdose deaths across the country. 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. 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. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern . 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. Over $649,665 in illegal drugs have been taken off the streets of Southwest Florida due to the. You know its a tough time for everybody, he said. We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. So these are high-level individuals.. appreciated. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. A Sheriffs K-9 arrived at the scene and alerted police to the presence of contraband inside. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Florida. 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. 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. During the press conference, Shea pointed to the pandemic for the rise in drug use and overdoses. So far, they have not filed charges. Those findings come as no surprise in Escambia. 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