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. The investigation started in Sept. 2020 . Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. The three alleged organizational leaders were identified as Brandon Huff, 35, and Jonathan Walker, 42, both of Cocoa, and Megan Wilborn, 31, of Merritt Island. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. OK, great. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Thats worth repeating. Four others are still on the run. MBI Director Ron Stucker described the bust as "one of the largest cocaine trafficking operations we've seen in Central Florida in three decades.". Before that, the top years were in 1991 and 1992 during the crack cocaine epidemic, 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. A Sheriffs K-9 arrived at the scene and alerted police to the presence of contraband inside. He added that the substance is often mixed with other drugs and that it often leads to overdose deaths across the country. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Judd. TAMPA, Fla. A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after conspiring to distribute hundreds of grams of substances containing methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. A low level operative would not be trusted to hold $18 million of drugs in a house. Thats when K9 Titan sniffed out 5.5 pounds of heroin worth in excess of $693,000. A Warner Bros. Melbourne police say they seized heroin and cocaine from a home. They arrested 18 people, many who face charges of selling or buying drugs. 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. He had previously been convicted of a felony, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, which meant he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law, according to authorities. So what does all that mean? 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Ford gave details on a significant seizure of. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. Ford gave details on a significant seizure of 235,000 milligrams fentanyl that took place this morning in Bay County. 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 drugs were seized on October 2. It was labeled "Bag Full Of Drugs." A. 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(WMBB) Nearly 20 pounds of crystal meth as well as more than 600 grams of heroin are off the streets in Walton County. Officials have detained suspects and will continue to make arrests as the investigation continues. Deputies are looking for a hit-and-run driver after a crash Sunday night seriously injured a 67-year-old motorcyclist in Winter Haven. 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. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. 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Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern . 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. We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. Note to self- do not traffic your illegal narcotics in bags labeled Bag Full Of Drugs, a Facebook post from the Sheriffs office read. Four of the people arrested are out on bond as of Thursday night. Other contraband was seized during 20 interdictions of suspected drug smuggling ships by eight American and UK vessels, the Coast Guard said. 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. 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. 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. 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. The operation began in Fort Myers in early 2019 and focused on finding drug suppliers in the city, authorities said. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford held a news conference about a large drug bust. You know its a tough time for everybody, he said. 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. More than $411 million worth of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded in Florida on Wednesday following a series of busts in international waters. SOUTHWEST Fla. Forty-one people were arrested over the last 36 hours in a drug sting involving several Southwest Florida agencies. A three milligram dose of fentanyl can be fatal. 2023 Cable News Network. Director Stucker said 2022 marked the third-largest amount of cocaine that MBI had seized in its history. We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. The DEA, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota Police Department and Bradenton Police Department investigated this case. 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. Its a massive amount.. 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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. Florida Gov. Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. The spokesperson added that TSA security officers do not search for illegal drugs, but if found during the screening process, the TSA will refer the matter to law enforcement partners. Skip Navigation. 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. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Discovery Company. By. Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It just wouldnt happen. Home News Crime 41 arrested, over $600K in illegal drugs seized in multi-agency drug sting. Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto shop. 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. You think LAX just got a drug smuggling problem at the airport? The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. A 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. Four people were arrested Tuesday at a Naples home and are facing multiple drug charges. In an operation dubbed Extreme Makeover: Fraud Edition, Volusia County deputies busted multiple suspects accused of pretending to be contractors advertising for home repairs following a tornado last month that caused millions of dollars in damage, according to a news release. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. BARTOW, FLORIDA Three Southwest Georgia women are charged with trafficking in large amounts of methamphetamine, along with other offenses, in Central Florida. 2023 Cable News Network. Published 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. Our K-9s can read.. He added that treatment options for addicts and people struggling have been limited due to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus. The drugs were found packed inside 25 duffel bags and ready for distribution, according to authorities. Investigators said 29 people are facing state d 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. The massive stash included more than 23,000 pounds. 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. 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