WebNOW PLAYING ABOVE. 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. They hurt parents and siblings and spouses and most of all our children, Cook said. On April 29 New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. All Rights Reserved. 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. There will also be a no-questions-asked drug drop-off location. Reach out to your local police department, your sheriffs office, ask for that help. February 26, 2021 / 8:48 AM / CBS Texas DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Newly sworn-in Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia is praising his Narcotics division and SWAT for a recent drug bust. PCSO charges 32 suspects during Operation Bell Gang Blues, a 16-month investigation of illegal drug traffickingPhoto: Polk County Sheriffs Office. On March 1, 2023, Narcotics Detectives investigating several overdoses connected to 480 Fletcher Street observed a tan Chevy Avalanche arrive to the above residence which stayed only briefly. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Dauphin Island? My team and I remain dedicated to eradicating the sale of illegal drugs in our community. August 26, 2021 The Escambia County Sheriffs Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriffs Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: Serious public health alert. 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. We will never know the lives saved through this investigation.. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. In a news conference, Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. Cassidy Ketchum was arrested and charged with the following: Narcotics Detectives executed a search warrant at 480 Fletcher St. in Port Charlotte where Jeanette Souza (8/23/86) and Kellie Coe (6/29/83) were taken into custody. Altogether, the suspects have 645 previous charges, including 314 prior felonies and 331 prior misdemeanors. Jack Campbell, the state attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit, said one of his prosecutors, Adrian Mood, and Guillermo Vallejo with the Office of Statewide Prosecution, had both been "cross sworn" as it was being determined where the criminal cases would fall in the court system. The sheriff said during the news conference that they also raided a Gateway $1.6 million worth of fentanyl seized in Montco bust: DA. On March 1, 2023, Narcotics Detectives investigating several overdoses connected to 480 Fletcher Street Director of UDEST, Captain Jason Douglas said he wont stop. 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.. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. In the largest methamphetamine seizure in Miami-Dade County history, law enforcement agents seized Illegal drugs ruin lives, destroy families, drive up property crime, and wreck neighborhoods. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Gulf Shores? Drug trafficking impacts entire communities with violence and frequency of drug use, he said. 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. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. PUBLISHED 7:31 PM ET May. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. Samantha Mathers is a digital reporter and content creator for Action News Jax. Lee County deputies served several search warrants and detectives found $1 million in cash as well as kilos of cocaine and fentanyl. 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. Thomas' father, Earl Thomas, 67, was also among those arrested. During the search warrant a plethora of drug paraphernalia was located including hundreds of used drug baggies and syringes. The deputy immediately removed Ketchum from the vehicle and placed her into custody. 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. Two people, including the father of former Florida State and NFL player Letroy Guion, were charged for selling cocaine. 1:14. Despite 32 people being charged, only 29 have been arrested, according to the sheriff's office. 01, 2021. 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. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. WebThe drug bust was reportedly sparked by two recent homicides in the area. 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. 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. Learn More. DeSantis responds to St. Pete Mayor Kriseman's criticisms: 'How did I politicize red tide? We can help you take control and power away from the drug dealer and in so doing, maybe save your own life or the life of somebody else, Balken said. Our community is safer because of the outstanding work by our detectives. Grady Judd, Sheriff, Tampa Bay Florida's #1 Hit Music Channel and home of The joe Show, PCSO charges 32 suspects during Operation Bell Gang Blues, a 16-month investigation of illegal drug trafficking. 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. Out of those 900 cases, 119 people lost their lives. 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. Operation Hammer and Hope (Clay County Sheriff's Office). 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. 0:00. The operation resulted in the seizure of weapons, drugs and more than $31 million in cash and virtual currencies. You can watch the full news conference below: Breaking news and weather alerts:Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app, Stay In the Know! Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter. WebORLANDO, Fla. Orlando police say they seized 2 grams of fentanyl, 24 grams of cocaine, 7 grams of methamphetamine, 2 grams of MDMA plus marijuana, pills and cash during a 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. 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. Starke Chief of Police Jeff Johnson says that the main drugs that they were concerned with were meth and fentanyl. Police say they are still looking for Mario Hankerson on a warrant for selling cocaine. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Local Gateway family busted with cocaine & fentanyl in major drug operation. 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 Authorities said Spencer, Dawodu and Alex Ogando, 35, of Providence, Rhode Island, advertised and sold pressed fentanyl pills throughout the U.S. 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. On April 29 and 30 deputies and investigators hit areas in DeLand and Deltona. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Additionally, more than 10 grams of Fentanyl, 7.4 grams of Methamphetamines, Hydromorphone pills, Cannabis and several loaded syringes containing Fentanyl were discovered. 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, 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. Related story: Ocala police uncover drug operation run by father and son during shooting investigation. The passenger, identified as 34-year-old Cassidy Ketchum, and driver, identified as Daniel Lamb, left approximately 20 minutes after arriving. Melonie Holt We cannot allow these The sheriff said, during their investigation, deputies discovered there were three key players behind the drug trafficking. The sheriff says getting drugs off Clay Countys streets couldnt have been done without the communitys help. Some will face prosecution at the circuit level while some are likely to face statewide prosecutors. 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. 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. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They were also perpetrators of violence, Perez said. Residents like Tasia Beener said they are glad the Sheriff's Office is trying to get drugs off the streets. Angela Dunklebarger, 49, Tavoris Jones, 37, and Reginald Phillips, 37, remain at large, according to law enforcement. 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. One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. According to Judd, McClain told investigators he dyed the methamphetamines blue in recognition of the Democratic Party. Judd said the two were rappers and liked to show off the guns and jewelry they obtained. 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 You think about that brothers," Judd said after suggesting he'd help the men come up with a new rap song. A 9mm handgun was also seized during the operation, investigators said. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge Brown had an active warrant for trafficking in heroin. 01, 2021. 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. 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. 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).