Drugs dont just affect one person. A 9mm handgun was also seized during the operation, investigators said. To keep up with the latest local news subscribe to our TV20 newsletter HERE and receive news straight to your email every morning. 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. During the search warrant a plethora of drug paraphernalia was located including hundreds of used drug baggies and syringes. Operation Hammer and Hope (Clay County Sheriff's Office). 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. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge One of 44 suspects arrested in sweeping drug bust in Clay County. Those arrested on various drug-related charges include Raymond 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. Its terrifying that number of people can die at the hands of a drug dealer that wants to turn a quick profit, and for those people that are watching this press conference later on, let me say this, I know that there are addicts out there that are going to see this, and Im going to ask you to do this, reach out for help. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said a long-term drug investigation took down a major drug distribution ring in Jacksonville On April 29 and 30 deputies and investigators hit areas in DeLand and Deltona. 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. Officials say more arrests are likely in the case. 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 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. WebA man is in jail after the largest marijuana bust in Escambia County history. 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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. 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. Download it here. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. 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. Everything you need to know about the next launch and detailed coverage on space missions. 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. Samantha Mathers is a digital reporter and content creator for Action News Jax. There will also be a no-questions-asked drug drop-off location. 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. A cocaine/heroin/fentanyl mixture weighed in at 189.5 grams. Reach out for help. Drug trafficking impacts entire communities with violence and frequency of drug use, he said. WebRecent Posts. 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. When deputies finished their search, they were seen carrying computers along with a box filled with evidence bags. In a news conference, During a press conference Thursday morning, Judd said earlier this year the Polk County Sheriffs Office High Everything you love about wokv.com and more! Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. TRENDING STORY: Gainesville man arrested for pulling gun on his brother. PCSO charges 32 suspects during Operation Bell Gang Blues, a 16-month investigation of illegal drug traffickingPhoto: Polk County Sheriffs Office. They arrested Marcus Blankenship and Steven Brown and there were three other people inside at the time. Two men from South Florida are among more than 100 people who were recently arrested in connection with a Darknet drug trafficking bust. WebWhile searching the house, police found fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, the sheriff's office said. 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. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 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. According to the sheriff's office, the group was attempting to traffic drugs with a total street value of $283,820. 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. The fentayl is really bad right now.. 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. 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. According to authorities, U.S. authorities teamed up with Europol to make the Operation Dark HunTor arrests. 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 Spencer, Dawodu and Alex Ogando, 35, of Providence, Rhode Island, advertised and sold pressed fentanyl pills throughout the U.S. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. DeSantis responds to St. Pete Mayor Kriseman's criticisms: 'How did I politicize red tide? On April 29 All rights reserved. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken spoke about this drug epidemic in the city during the press conference. 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. In this instance, eleven guns were in the hands of these felons two of which were stolen. Despite 32 people being charged, only 29 have been arrested, according to the sheriff's office. FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said those arrested had 93 prior drug arrests, including some federal, 67 prior violentcrime arrests and 175 prior felony counts. 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? Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. (Clay County Sheriff's Office), STAY UPDATED:Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories. 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. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. You think about that brothers," Judd said after suggesting he'd help the men come up with a new rap song. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested 16 people on drugs charges during busts this week. Out of those 900 cases, 119 people lost their lives. WebLee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this is one of the largest drug busts in LCSO history. They hurt parents and siblings and spouses and most of all our children, Cook said. 1:14. Illegal drugs ruin lives, destroy families, drive up property crime, and wreck neighborhoods. They also found $4,557 in cash inside the house. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this is one of the largest drug busts in LCSO history. I believe that if we try hard enough we can do anything, Douglas said. Copyright 2021 WCJB. In the largest methamphetamine seizure in Miami-Dade County history, law enforcement agents seized Nearly 2 dozen arrested in Delaware drug bust. 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. Investigators said the arrests included charges of armed trafficking in fentanyl, armed trafficking in oxycodone, possession of methamphetamine, and the sale and delivery of crack cocaine. 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. Starke Chief of Police Jeff Johnson says that the main drugs that they were concerned with were meth and fentanyl. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. Narcotics detectives also located 24 Buprenorphine films inside the vehicle Kellie Coe was driving. In January, Sheriff Michelle Cook, along with 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. 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. On March 1, 2023, Narcotics Detectives investigating several overdoses connected to 480 Fletcher Street The passenger, identified as 34-year-old Cassidy Ketchum, and driver, identified as Daniel Lamb, left approximately 20 minutes after arriving. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The SWAT team made entry to the home after knocking and announcing who they were. 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. LCSO Crime scene vans were seen at CLB Collisions & Customs and Rim Source, which was surrounded by crime scene tape. It amazes me that some people still think drug traffickers are somehow low-level, non-violent criminals. 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 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. 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. The deputy immediately removed Ketchum from the vehicle and placed her into custody. 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. The sheriff says getting drugs off Clay Countys streets couldnt have been done without the communitys help. 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. August 26, 2021 The Escambia County Sheriffs Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. STARKE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Starke Police Department arrested eight people in connection with a drug distribution ring early Monday morning. Are dogs allowed on the beach in Gulf Shores? 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. Learn More. In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. From left: Luis Spencer, 31, and Olatunji Dawodu, 36. (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. WebPENSACOLA, 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 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. Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter. Investigators say Vincent Thomas, 35, and Patrick Field, 34, were also considered main distributors in the area. The vehicle traveled down Veterans Blvd until a deputy was able to make a traffic stop. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Altogether, the suspects have 645 previous charges, including 314 prior felonies and 331 prior misdemeanors. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. WebCLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriffs Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. The sheriff said, during their investigation, deputies discovered there were three key players behind the drug trafficking. One of the top suspects was murdered during the investigation, which began in June, and his son was charged in another murder. Police say they are still looking for Mario Hankerson on a warrant for selling cocaine. 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). 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. The suspects from South Florida were identified by authorities as Luis Spencer, 31, and Olatunji Dawodu, 36, both of who are from Fort Lauderdale. Two people, including the father of former Florida State and NFL player Letroy Guion, were charged for selling cocaine. Cocaine, heroin, pot, $30K seized; at least six arrested as FDLE breaks up alleged drug ring, Federal prisons employee indicted in large-scale dog-fighting ring, Eight more charged in Panhandle drug ring, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, Kevin Kwame Choute, 32,Tallahassee:Charged with armed trafficking of heroin, armed trafficking of cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to traffic in heroin, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Aaprie Mitchell, 39, Tallahassee:Charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, Carlos Cromartie, 41,Tallahassee:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Cedric Bernard Thomas, 39, Tallahassee:Charged with trafficking in cocaine and tampering with evidence, Charles Edward Williams III, 30, Tallahassee:Charged with possession of marijuana more than 28 grams and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Chris Patrick Gilyard Jr., 29, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Cody Marcell Zellars, 27, Midway:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, Cortez Johnson, 34,Panama City:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Danate Miller, 45, Midway:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Darryl Crafton, 34, Oceanside, California:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, David Mitchell, 37, Fort Pierce:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Dominic Rosier, 34, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Donald Ray Ivory Jr., 52, Midway: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Duran Antwan Bethea, 36, Orlando:Charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of Alpha PVP with intent to distribute, and providing false information to law enforcement, Christopher Hoardes, 27, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Alexander Samuel Holmes, 29, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, JaMario Raequan Paramore, 25, Tallahassee:Charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Keith Times, 44, Tallahassee: Charged with felon in possession of a firearm, trafficking in amphetamine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Kristy Chambers, 43, Tallahassee:Charged with trafficking in amphetamine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Michael 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, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Rashard Jamell Jackson, 32, Midway:Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Richard Fruggiero, 28, Tallahassee:Charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Sharika Shawnque Houston, 30, Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Stephon Jarod Williams, 33,Tallahassee: Charged with possession of marijuana more than 28 grams and possession of drug Paraphernalia, Quentin Travelle Gamble, 32,Tallahassee: Charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Willie Ardnes Baker, 59, Tallahassee: Charged with possession of crack cocaine.