If youre struggling with addiction, you can get help Friday at Wilkinson Elementary School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WebNOW PLAYING ABOVE. 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. 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. 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. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Gulf Shores? Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. You think about that brothers," Judd said after suggesting he'd help the men come up with a new rap song. When deputies finished their search, they were seen carrying computers along with a box filled with evidence bags. Some will face prosecution at the circuit level while some are likely to face statewide prosecutors. Deputies and detectives from the West Volusia Narcotics Task Force and Deltona Narcotics Enforcement Team were part of the operation. 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. WebThey 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 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. According to Judd, McClain told investigators he dyed the methamphetamines blue in recognition of the Democratic Party. Police say they are still looking for Mario Hankerson on a warrant for selling cocaine. Officials said that several suspects who were directly involved with opioid overdose death investigations were arrested. 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, Two men from South Florida are among more than 100 people who were recently arrested in connection with a Darknet drug trafficking bust. One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. 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. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. 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? If you have any information on local drug activity, please contact the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office at 941-639-2101 or through our mobile app. Cox Media Group. 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. He said much of the violent activity connected to the drug ring happened in the rural county west of Tallahassee. WebPUBLISHED 7:31 PM ET May. 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. 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. Everything you need to know about Florida's theme parks and the all-new Attractions Insider podcast! To keep up with the latest local news subscribe to our TV20 newsletter HERE and receive news straight to your email every morning. DeSantis responds to St. Pete Mayor Kriseman's criticisms: 'How did I politicize red tide? The Fentanyl seized is enough to kill nearly 30,000 people by overdose, officials say. Brown had an active warrant for trafficking in heroin. 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. 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 Angela Dunklebarger, 49, Tavoris Jones, 37, and Reginald Phillips, 37, remain at large, according to law enforcement. In January, Sheriff Michelle Cook, along with 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. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. The sheriff said, during their investigation, deputies discovered there were three key players behind the drug trafficking. A 9mm handgun was also seized during the operation, investigators said. Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. They arrested Marcus Blankenship and Steven Brown and there were three other people inside at the time. On April 29 and 30 deputies and investigators hit areas in DeLand and Deltona. 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. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 150 people were arrested, including two people from South Florida. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We will never know the lives saved through this investigation.. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. On April 29 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. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. They were also perpetrators of violence, Perez said. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriffs Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. WebWhile searching the house, police found fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, the sheriff's office said. View all posts by Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Closed for business, Traffic stop leads to drug bust on local trap house, Man arrested after scheduling meetup with minor for sex, PC Man Arrested with Trafficking Amount of Fentanyl/Cocaine, Florida Division of Gaming Enforcement puts local casinos on notice, Deputies catch one of Charlotte Countys most wanted after foot pursuit ends in canal, 2.50 grams (in vial weight) of liquid Heroin from inside syringe, 0.1 grams (IBW) of pink/blue Fentanyl on top of center console, 8 white pills bearing the markings M8 which were identified via pill identifier as Hydromorphone Hydrochloride (schedule 2 controlled substance), One bottle cap (Contents testing positive for Fentanyl), One cigarette wrapper that previously contained Hydromorphone Hydrochloride pills, Drug Paraphernalia Possession or Use Of. Download it here. 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. There will also be a no-questions-asked drug drop-off location. TRENDING STORY: Gainesville man arrested for pulling gun on his brother. Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app. 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. 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, The operation resulted in the seizure of weapons, drugs and more than $31 million in cash and virtual currencies. 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. "We put your tail in the county jail. 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. Related story: Ocala police uncover drug operation run by father and son during shooting investigation. $1.6 million worth of fentanyl seized in Montco bust: DA. WebRecent Posts. 01, 2021. Investigators added that more arrests are expected. Those arrested on various drug-related charges include Raymond All 32 people said to be involved in the drug trafficking operation face a total of 301 felonies and 134 misdemeanors. Investigators say Vincent Thomas, 35, and Patrick Field, 34, were also considered main distributors in the area. WebLAKE 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. LCSO Crime scene vans were seen at CLB Collisions & Customs and Rim Source, which was surrounded by crime scene tape. During a press conference Thursday morning, Judd said earlier this year the Polk County Sheriffs Office High WebLee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this is one of the largest drug busts in LCSO history. 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. 01, 2021. 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. All rights reserved. (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. One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. 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. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of various narcotics and ties to a local drug house. Five of the eight people were arrested for possession and intent to distribute meth. Win Tickets to see Taylor Swift in Tampa Bay! According to the sheriff's office, the group was attempting to traffic drugs with a total street value of $283,820. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 150 people were arrested, including two people from South Florida. 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. All 32 people said to be involved in the drug trafficking operation face a total of 301 felonies and 134 misdemeanors. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. Major drug dealer arrested, more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana seized Aug 26, 2021 / 07:59 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. Despite 32 people being charged, only 29 have been arrested, according to the sheriff's office. In a news conference, In a news conference, Sheriff Grady Judd said drugs like marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and ecstacy were taken from the Lake Wales area. Perez said suspects would come to Tallahassee to conduct business then hide out in Gadsden where there are fewer law enforcement resources. One of the top suspects was murdered during the investigation, which began in June, and his son was charged in another murder. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of various narcotics and ties to a local drug house. The sheriff said during the news conference that they also raided a Gateway 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. 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 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. In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. 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. PUBLISHED 7:31 PM ET May. In the largest methamphetamine seizure in Miami-Dade County history, law enforcement agents seized The deputy immediately removed Ketchum from the vehicle and placed her into custody. STARKE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Starke Police Department arrested eight people in connection with a drug distribution ring early Monday morning. All rights reserved. 1:14. 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. Out of those 900 cases, 119 people lost their lives. My team and I remain dedicated to eradicating the sale of illegal drugs in our community. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Six people were arrested in a massive drug bust at an auto body shop in Lee County. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. They hurt parents and siblings and spouses and most of all our children, Cook said. 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 Port Charlotte, FL - March 2, 2023 Deputies approaching a vehicle interrupted a passenger attempting to inject Heroin during a traffic stop. Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: Serious public health alert. Please check your connection and try again using the Retry button. WebU.S. Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. 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. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Subscribe to 104.5 WOKV newsletter(Opens a new window), 104.5 WOKV facebook feed(Opens a new window), 104.5 WOKV twitter feed(Opens a new window), 104.5 WOKV instagram feed(Opens a new window). These young individuals are wasting their lives and risking the lives of others peddling this poison.. Two men from South Florida are among more than 100 people who were recently arrested in connection with a Darknet drug trafficking bust. It amazes me that some people still think drug traffickers are somehow low-level, non-violent criminals. Learn More. 0:00. During the search warrant a plethora of drug paraphernalia was located including hundreds of used drug baggies and syringes. 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. According to authorities, U.S. authorities teamed up with Europol to make the Operation Dark HunTor arrests.