florida keys drug bust florida keys drug bust

On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. I was with five of the 29 the night before in the lawyers Eden Pines home (the lawyer wasnt there) snorting coke, smoking pot and drinking booze and trying to get out of there with my ass in one piece. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; Pacheco told cops the gun belonged to the 17-year-old, who was also arrested and turned over to juvenile justice authorities, Adam Linhardt, sheriffs office spokesman, said. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. The drugnet, in addition to the arrests, resulted in the confiscation of approximately 500 bales of marijuana; two T-Craft boats; a 40-foot Lobster boat, Miss Lucy out of Marathon; two closed body trucks, a 1980 van, a pickup truck and a 1979 Cadillac. Pacheco waived his Miranda rights, according to the report, and told deputies he picked up the 17-year-old in Miami and the 15-year-old in Homestead. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. Authorities said it the mostdefendants in a single Keys bust and among the most everin any Florida bust. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. Friday night, it became clear they were about to hit pay dirt, and officers added men to their stakeout in a posh neighborhood along a mangrove swamp just north of U.S. 1. WebA South Florida man and woman each face more than 60 years in federal prison after being charged with multiple drug dealing counts last week. On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel, WESH reported. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Traffic stop results in drug bust. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. These square grouper were picked up by cowboys in fast boats who listened to the marine radio day and night for word when there was a dumping. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar confirmed that agents have responded to numerous drug wash-ups since the start of the month, seizing about 27 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of cocaine. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? Box 713Fisherman Greg Collazo, 25, Gulf Crain HamitFisherman Bernardo Lewis Valiente, 25, 300 East 63rdSt. Dade County residents arrested were: Orlando Vidal Maldonado, 42, 1265 W. Fourth LaneNestor Fernandez, 30, 4572 SW 127th Ct.Coral Fish Market owner Raul Hernandez, 44, 3811 SW88th PlaceRolando Aguiar, 30, 4132 SW 102nd CourtCatalino Rioseco Chambrot, 35, 10351 SW 56th St.Angel Cruz, 29, 2421 SW 129th Ave.Fisherman Carmelo Fernandez, 28, 5472 SW 127th Ct. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. Jul 17, 2021. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. It was a routine bust.. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. 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. She graduated from Indiana University. The lobster boat reportedly was outfitted with sophisticated radar equipment and, as an official described, the biggest engine Ive ever seen. One of the vehicles was said to have a built-in police scanner. Detectives said the organization was obtaining large quantities of drugs from overseas and distributing them throughout Brevard County, which is about 50 miles east of Orlando. Rickie Santiago Pacheco, 23, faces charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, possessing a firearm while committing a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and interfering with the custody of a minor. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County font-size:11.0pt; "Arrest warrants were issued for each of the 100 suspects who have been identified throughout the course of the investigation as sources or distributors of these deadly drugs," the sheriff's office said in a statement. mso-para-margin-left:0in; In addition to charges of possession of more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana trafficking and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, which were filed against all 30 defendants, charges of carrying concealed weapons were still pending against several of the men. line-height:115%; These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines and possession of a controlled substance. X-NONE As lawmen gathered near the off-loading site on the bayside of Big Pine Key, a Customs agent was approached by one of the alleged offenders. The addresses for those named earlier are Jamardo, Geiger Key; F. Remand 3000 Flagler Ave.; A. Hernandez, 1603 Atlantic Blvd; Sanchez, 1122 Watson St; D. Galvan, 1612 United St. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. Tipsters may remain anonymous. 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. A traffic stop on a Mercedes Benz driving with no lights on early Friday morning turned into a much bigger deal for the driver after Florida Keys deputies said they found a large amount of marijuana, two guns and two runaways from Miami-Dade County in the car. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? The Holiday Inn doesnt check as many people in and out a day as I do. the sheriff mused as he, members of the press and Public Information Officer Sgt. Join the New Times community and help support The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. Florida authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl as part of an undercover drug trafficking bust. The 104 arrest warrants concluded a months-long investigation by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office into an organization suspected of "distributing kilogram quantities" of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl -- a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, police said. He was arrested on charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia. The only things of note toever happen here was the Spanish landing in the 1600s, the burningdown of the Big Pine Inn in the 1970 and the Big Pine29 Bust in 1980. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. mso-para-margin-right:0in; WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Harry, he replied. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. WFTV Detectives said the organization WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Florida Gov. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. #breakingnews #florida. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. The only person who listed at out-of-state address wasNorman Lee Young, 30, 110 Gum Tree Rd., Hilton Head,S.C. From the Key WestCitizen November 14,1980BySheila Quickstad Citizen Staff Writer. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida BIG PINE KEY, Fla. Just days after helping bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys, Monroe County Sheriffs Office K9 Coral is at it again. false Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's A reporter for the Miami Herald, who wanted to take pictures of the arrested men, was threatened by the lobby crowd who warned him that neither he nor the camera would make it out of the building unharmed if he took photos. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. ~Editor. WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. "But if you are a poison peddler, and you kill someone in Flagler County, we are going to investigate you for first-degree murder, and we already have four people sitting in state prison for killing someone for selling the lethal dose," Staly said. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. Crime A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said investigators uncovered 75 firearms, 9 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of fentanyl and an undisclosed amount of heroin. mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. Theyre accused of selling crack The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered along the coastline in the Florida Keys, the U.S. Border Patrol in Miami announced Thursday. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. By Citizen Staff. Miami was snubbed, Florida Keys firefighter arrested after deputies say she beat her wife outside a bar, Human smuggling, a truck and a school bus: A Broward child rapist goes back behind bars. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. -- A traffic stop involving James Forbes Jr. happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night while riding a bike on Palm Avenue in Bunnell. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. mso-para-margin-top:0in; The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County Sheriffs Offices SWAT team, along with state and federal agents, found him at home at about 6:40 a.m. and served a warrant. 5 Sunshine St., Stock Island; Orlando Vidal Maldonado, 42, Miami; Norman Lee Young, 30, Hilton Head, S.C.; Sergio Edward Galvan, 40, 3738 Paula Ave.; Richard Allen Shank, 31, 3533 Flagler Ave., route man for Pepsi Cola Miami; Mitchell Earl Noa, 22, Big Pine Key; Carmen Fernandez, 28, Miami, listed employer as Two Friends Inc, Co.; Enrique Blasco, 19, Laird St.; Raul Hernandez Miami, listed as owner Coral Fish Co., Miami; Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon Lodge, Marathon; Rafael Francisco Lopez, Marathon; Rolando Aguiar 30, Miami; Bernardo L Valiente, 25, Marathon, Michael Patrick OBrien, 216 Lincoln Gardens, Stock Island; Fermin Tapia, 41, Jamaica Dr. (city directory lists same address on P. Avenue as given to authorities by Sergio Galvan); G. Collazo, 25, Marathon; Jose Morzon Garcia, 44, 29, Key West Villas, listed employer as Two Friends Inc, Co.; Catalino Rios Chambrot, 35, Miami; Richard Lee Mungin, 37, Sloan Trailer Park, Stock Island; Angel Cruz, 27, Miami; Juano Manuel Venegas, A37 8th Ave., Stock Island. false Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. The long process known as coking in police language continued into the evening hours Saturday at the Monroe County Sheriffs Department 30 men rounded up during a pre-dawn marijuana bust were being questioned by officials. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. CAKEGATE 2023: Bad Bunny's Restaurant Accused of Gobbling Birthday Girl's Cake, Neighborhood Nazi Jon Minadeo Peddles Hate by the Minute, Affordable New "Micro-Units" Slated for Little River, Edgewater, Sen. Rubio's Permanent Daylight Savings Bill Sees Light of Day Once More, NFL Legend Ray Lewis Joins World Jai-Alai League Board of Directors. Among those arrested at a marijuana off-loading site on Big Pine Key were several familiar Key West names including Nelson Jamardo, better known as Ping Ping; Francisco Hernandez, 58, a former fireman for the Navy and now a watch engineer at the City Electric System; Antonio Tony Hernandez, 50, owner of David Electric; Manuel Sanchez, 57, salesman at Sears; and Domingo Galvan, 44, a registered nurse employed at DePoo Memorial Doctors Hospital. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. Miami's independent source of The 30 persons arrested were booked at the Monroe County Jail and questioned before being sent to a U.S. magistrate for bond hearings Saturday night. She might be cute. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. In those days the cowboys had faster boats and knew the waters better than the Marine Patrol (except for Officer Mark Walker, the best Marine Patrol Officer anyone has ever seen) so most times they could outrun the law. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. independent local journalism in Miami. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 There also were grandfathers, a plumber, a power companyengineer, a crewman from the first vessel to arrive inKey West in the Cuban boatlift last March, and thebrother he brought back from Cuba. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Dyer was found in possession of the following, according to deputies: Deputies said Bell was found to be in possession of three grams of MDMA/ecstasy and a metal pipe. WebNo. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. The public may view the reports by going to WSVN.com and clicking on "FCC Public File", or by visiting the FCC's website at FCC.org. Thompson said the 4 a.m. drug bust culminated a four week investigation involving members of the Marathon sheriffs sub-station, U.S. Customs and the Marine Patrol. 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. Contact Us Deputies checked the car and found 38 more marijuana vaping products, a loaded Taurus .40 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson SD40 VE handgun, five 12-gauge shotgun shells, 57 .22 magnum bullets, and one 9 mm bullet, as well as various drug equipment, including rolling papers and a marijuana grinder, according to the report. Authorities confiscated 500 50-pound bales of pot, a 40-foot Marathon-based lobster boat, the Miss Lucy, two trucks, a 1980 Ford van, a Chevy pickup with a camper, a 1979 gold Cadillac and two 24- foot T-craft, boats designed for back-country fishing that arepopularwith smugglers because they can haul huge loads over shallow water at high speed. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. On March 21. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. All three were arrested and taken to jail. WebKEY WEST, Fla. A Key West woman faces methamphetamine trafficking and other drug charges after a bust that was assisted by K9 cop Coral, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office Its coming from Cuba, weather forecasters say, Body found floating in channel off Key West, Monroe County Sheriffs Office says, A coconut tree farm caught fire in South Miami-Dade. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} 0 He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. 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. 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. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. WebEnough fentanyl seized to kill half of Florida; 'massive' bust linked to a Mexican drug cartel: AG By Gail Paschall-Brown, WESH , CNNWire Friday, October 14, 2022