WebPolk Sheriff talks about major drug bust and makes up a rap verse. 30 pounds of cocaine, $330,000 cash seized; 27 charged in Melonie Holt We cannot allow these FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said those arrested had 93 prior drug arrests, including some federal, 67 prior violentcrime arrests and 175 prior felony counts. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said a long-term drug investigation took down a major drug distribution ring in Jacksonville STARKE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Starke Police Department arrested eight people in connection with a drug distribution ring early Monday morning. On March 1, 2023, Narcotics Detectives investigating several overdoses connected to 480 Fletcher Street Thomas' father, Earl Thomas, 67, was also among those arrested. Copyright 2021 WCJB. Two people, including the father of former Florida State and NFL player Letroy Guion, were charged for selling cocaine. The communities of Leon and Gadsden counties are safer with the arrests of these individuals., More drug rings:Cocaine, heroin, pot, $30K seized; at least six arrested as FDLE breaks up alleged drug ring, More:Federal prisons employee indicted in large-scale dog-fighting ring, More:Eight more charged in Panhandle drug ring. 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To keep up with the latest local news subscribe to our TV20 newsletter HERE and receive news straight to your email every morning. If youre struggling with addiction, you can get help Friday at Wilkinson Elementary School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lee County Sheriffs Office held a news conference on the raid that happened at an auto body shop off of Evans Avenue and Oak Ridge Court on Wednesday. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. 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. A cocaine/heroin/fentanyl mixture weighed in at 189.5 grams. Orlando police seize fentanyl, meth, cocaine and cash during He said since OPD started tracking drugs in the community in 2017, just in Ocala proper, police have responded to roughly 900 over dose incidents. 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. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. Sign up below to be added to our mailing list for the latest news updates, access to exclusive contests, and more! They had 9.3 grams of marijuana, 1.6 grams of cocaine, 3.2 grams of Oxycodone pills, 3.5 grams of MDMA pills that test positive for methamphetamine and 2.3 grams of Tramadol pills. Several arrested, including former NFL players father, in Bradford County drug ring bust, 'My son didn't deserve this': Gainesville mother mourns 4-year-old son who drowned in pond, Three inmates treated after being found under-the-influence in a Columbia County prison, Gainesville man arrested for pulling gun on his brother. 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. WebLee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this is one of the largest drug busts in LCSO history. August 26, 2021 The Escambia County Sheriffs Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. Left lane blocked due to crash on I-295 Southbound after Exit 41 FL-105 Heckscher Dr. Left lane blocked due to crash on FL-202 Butler Blvd Eastbound at Belfort Rd. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. There will also be a no-questions-asked drug drop-off location. Director of UDEST, Captain Jason Douglas said he wont stop. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. On April 29 and 30 deputies and investigators hit areas in DeLand and Deltona. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Mark Perez said they were independent organizations that shared suppliers and dealers that ensured a steady supply of drugs in North Florida.. The vehicle traveled down Veterans Blvd until a deputy was able to make a traffic stop. To keep up with the latest local news subscribe to our TV20 newsletter HERE and receive news straight to your email every morning. 1:14. Angela Dunklebarger, 49, Tavoris Jones, 37, and Reginald Phillips, 37, remain at large, according to law enforcement. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. SWAT team makes major drug bust at Pensacola home - WKRG Everything you need to know about Florida's theme parks and the all-new Attractions Insider podcast! Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. 01, 2021. WebWhile searching the house, police found fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, the sheriff's office said. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. PCSO charges 32 suspects during Operation Bell Gang Blues, a 16-month investigation of 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? Closed for business, Traffic stop leads to drug bust on local trap You may be offline. They were also perpetrators of violence, Perez said. PENSACOLA Eleven people from Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Navarre and Miramar Beach were sentenced Friday to multi-year federal prison terms on drug-related charges. Altogether, the suspects have 645 previous charges, including 314 prior felonies and 331 prior misdemeanors. Pasco sheriff: 3 people, including a 6-year-old girl, shot in the head during home invasion, Missing child alert canceled for Miami 15-year-old, 10 Weather: Warm weekend, isolated rain chances, Windy conditions ahead of chance of rain this weekend. Reach out to your local police department, your sheriffs office, ask for that help. You think about that brothers," Judd said after suggesting he'd help the men come up with a new rap song. WebRecent Posts. They arrested Marcus Blankenship and Steven Brown and there were three other people inside at the time. 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. His agents and other law enforcement officials spent a total of 12,000 man hours during the investigation and it was clear from the violence that surrounded the drug ring that the two are deeply connected. You can watch the full news conference below: Breaking news and weather alerts:Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app, Stay In the Know! $1.6 million worth of fentanyl seized in Montco bust: DA. All 32 people said to be involved in the drug trafficking operation face a total of 301 felonies and 134 misdemeanors. 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. 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Law enforcement arrests 83 people in Marion County involved in drug trafficking, 'My son didn't deserve this': Gainesville mother mourns 4-year-old son who drowned in pond, Three inmates treated after being found under-the-influence in a Columbia County prison, Ocala police uncover drug operation run by father and son during shooting investigation. Nearly 2 dozen arrested in Delaware drug bust. 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. 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. 27 arrested after major Jacksonville drug bust, JSO says Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Copyright 2021 WCJB. Perez said suspects would come to Tallahassee to conduct business then hide out in Gadsden where there are fewer law enforcement resources. All rights reserved. WebPUBLISHED 7:31 PM ET May. LCSO Crime scene vans were seen at CLB Collisions & Customs and Rim Source, which was surrounded by crime scene tape. 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. In the largest methamphetamine seizure in Miami-Dade County history, law enforcement agents seized 'Deck the Cells': 24 arrested in Citrus County drug bust operation 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 Florida 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, Five of the eight people were arrested for possession and intent to distribute meth. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge LEE COUNTY, Fla. Six people were arrested in a massive drug bust at an auto body shop in Lee County. Officials say more arrests are likely in the case. 0:00. Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter. The SWAT team made entry to the home after knocking and announcing who they were. 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. A major drug ring operating out of Tallahassee had connections to other states and investigators say its members, 27 of whom have been taken into custody, wereresponsible for flooding North Florida with cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and Fentanyl. Residents like Tasia Beener said they are glad the Sheriff's Office is trying to get drugs off the streets. Major drug operation nets 13 arrests, millions Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. In a news conference, Sheriff Grady Judd said drugs like marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and ecstacy were taken from the Lake Wales area. Please check your connection and try again using the Retry button. WebU.S. All rights reserved. Lee County deputies served several search warrants and detectives found $1 million in cash as well as kilos of cocaine and fentanyl. Deputies: 16 arrested in massive drug bust at Central Florida home 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. A total of 65 arrests were made in the U.S. The FBIin conjunction with the USPIS, FDA, and DEA, had been investigating a criminal enterprise that operated two Darknet vendor accounts, a news release from the DOJ read. We arent only going to put you in jail, but were going to take you money cars and businesses and anything else you gained from the sale of illegal drugs, Sheriff Marceno said. Once she returned, the vehicle left. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Local Gateway family busted with cocaine & fentanyl in major drug operation. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Dauphin Island? WebThe drug bust was reportedly sparked by two recent homicides in the area. The sheriff said during the news conference that they also raided a Gateway home on Avalon Lake Circle. The Fentanyl seized is enough to kill nearly 30,000 people by overdose, officials say. The sheriff said, during their investigation, deputies discovered there were three key players behind the drug trafficking. WebA man is in jail after the largest marijuana bust in Escambia County history. (Clay County Sheriff's Office), STAY UPDATED:Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories. Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. 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. Starke Chief of Police Jeff Johnson says that the main drugs that they were concerned with were meth and fentanyl. 32 charged in Polk County $283K drug bust | wtsp.com New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Gulf Shores? The sheriff says getting drugs off Clay Countys streets couldnt have been done without the communitys help. Drug I know my community very well, I am aware of my surroundings, I know the area the drugs were confiscated, and I know the Sheriff's Office is working hard to make change for the community, she said. drug bust All rights reserved. The operation resulted in the seizure of weapons, drugs and more than $31 million in cash and virtual currencies. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. 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. Despite 32 people being charged, only 29 have been arrested, according to the sheriff's office. Those arrested on various drug-related charges include Raymond WebMiami-Dade PD Takes Down 5 In Drug Bust Near Kendall School, Confiscating Duffle Bags, Coolers Full Of Narcotics. 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. 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. In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. A 9mm handgun was also seized during the operation, investigators said. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. One of the accounts was operated out of the Miami area and the other out of the Providence, Rhode Island, area.. Drug trafficking impacts entire communities with violence and frequency of drug use, he said. WebNOW PLAYING ABOVE. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. All 32 people said to be involved in the drug trafficking operation face a total of 301 felonies and 134 misdemeanors. All Rights Reserved. Judd said the two were rappers and liked to show off the guns and jewelry they obtained. Two men from South Florida are among more than 100 people who were recently arrested in connection with a Darknet drug trafficking bust. Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter, Example video title will go here for this video. In January, Sheriff Michelle Cook, along with her leadership team, say they took a hard look at the drug issues in Clay County and discussed strategies on how to best combat them. During a press conference Thursday morning, Judd said earlier this year the Polk County Sheriffs Office High Operation Dirty Water One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. 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. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 150 people were arrested, including two people from South Florida. Learn More. 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. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. 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. 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. The fentayl is really bad right now.. PHOTOS: 44 people arrested in massive drug bust in Clay County 2023 www.tallahassee.com. 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. ', A Frank Conversation: New podcast explores race, religion, politics and more, Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of various narcotics and ties to a local drug house. team makes major drug bust at Pensacola home Researchers say red tide is pushing sharks into Tampa Bay area canals, Seattle Kraken take Yanni Gourde from Tampa Bay Lightning in expansion draft, Gov. Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: Serious public health alert. Major Drug Bust in Florida Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. They also confiscated 36 pounds of crystal meth, two kilograms of cocaine, over one kilogram of heroin, three kilograms of fentanyl, $108,000 in cash and 21 guns and ammunition - all in just three months. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this is one of the largest drug busts in LCSO history. Port Charlotte, FL - March 2, 2023 Deputies approaching a vehicle interrupted a passenger attempting to inject Heroin during a traffic stop. 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. 'Don't Mistake Kindness For Weakness,' Dallas Police Chief WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) Federal and local law enforcement officials have arrested six people in connection to a drug trafficking operation with Mexican drug cartel ties, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. In this instance, eleven guns were in the hands of these felons two of which were stolen. WebMichael Wallace, 48, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device Nigel Brown, 29, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken spoke about this drug epidemic in the city during the press conference. 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. drug bust Deputies and detectives from the West Volusia Narcotics Task Force and Deltona Narcotics Enforcement Team were part of the operation. Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices! Gabriel Cossio, Gabriel Cossio Jr., Melissa Cossio, Jesus Cossio, Aaron Pruitt, and Christopher Ramirez were all arrested on drug charges. (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. Drug bust near Cocoa sees 14 people arrested - Florida Today 4 people were arrested and 6 animals were rescued at a recent drug bust in Vero Beach. 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. Samantha Mathers is a digital reporter and content creator for Action News Jax. OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Agents with the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) announced Wednesday that they have seized more than 300 marijuana plants, plus an additional 300 packaged marijuana products. Illegal drugs ruin lives, destroy families, drive up property crime, and wreck neighborhoods. According to the sheriff's office, the group was attempting to traffic drugs with a total street value of $283,820. Everything you need to know about the next launch and detailed coverage on space missions. The suspects from South Florida were identified by authorities as Luis Spencer, 31, and Olatunji Dawodu, 36, both of who are from Fort Lauderdale. These young individuals are wasting their lives and risking the lives of others peddling this poison..