florida keys drug bust

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. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. mso-style-priority:99; The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. 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. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. Deputies said they knew Howard had warrants out for her arrest for drug trafficking, and as they were pulling her over they realized that her vehicle was being followed by a Lexus. 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. As the Marine Patrol or Customs would be speeding to intercept a pot boat the people on the pot boat would throw the bales off as fast as they could, trying to get rid of the evidence. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. 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. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. 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. 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. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida Keys The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. Harry, he replied. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. Theyre accused of selling crack Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs, and cash At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. mso-para-margin-top:0in; Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's Big Pine 29 Bust 1980 BigPineKey.com Florida authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl as part of an undercover drug trafficking bust. Normal mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. 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. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 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 Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. 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. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off I hoped I could talk my way out of there. 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. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Oct 23, 2020. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. /* Style Definitions */ They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a 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. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. 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. And as frantic efforts were being made to reach U.S. Magistrate Jack Saunders to arrange a bond hearing, Sheriff William A. Freeman Jr. fretted, Where the hell am going to put them? Freemans already over-crowded jail became even more cramped when inmates destroyed Cell Block 2 during a disturbance Wednesday night. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 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. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. Everyones a good friend or family of a number ofpeople. Sheriff William A. Freeman said of thesuspects, who were greeted by about 40 red-eyedrelatives at the Monroe County jail as they were booked. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton brought 26,250 pounds of cocaine and 3,700 pounds of marijuana to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale -- the largest drug interdiction in the ship's history. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. The illegal 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. 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. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Nelson (Ping-Ping) Jamarado, 41, the wiry, bearded former boat mechanic who early this year bought a share of Bevis-Lewis Chevrolet Inc. of Key West. A massive drug bust has placed a dozen people behind bars after a drug home in New Smyrna Beach has been on deputies radar for months, they say. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. If youre a druggie driving U.S. 1 through the Florida Keys and youre pulled over, the last thing you want to hear is the Monroe County Sheriffs Department call in backup in the form of the K-9 crew, specifically the drug-sniffing two-year-old Golden Retriever named Coral. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Mastermind behind largest meth seizure in Polk history was They were too many of them and they were too obvious. 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. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. 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. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. On March 21. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. 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. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; Agents of the Sheriffs Department, the U.S. CustomsService and the Florida Marine Patrol culminated amonth-long investigation at 4 a.m., seizing three boats,three trucks and a gold Cadillac. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. She might be cute. #breakingnews #florida. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. X-NONE Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Police in Florida issued arrest warrants for over 100 members of a suspected drug gang on Wednesday and seized enough fentanyl to wipe out a large county. Jamarado 50, the owner of David Electric Inc., an electrical contractor that frequently wins large contracts with Monroe County and the city of Key West. 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. Law enforcement arrests 83 people in 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. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. The investigation started a month ago. "We have seen our seizures in Flagler County is up over 500 percent so far this year compared to all of last year," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. 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. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. 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. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Crime She graduated from Indiana University. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. 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. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. 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. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. WFTV Detectives said the organization Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? mso-style-noshow:yes; Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Florida Keys traffic stop turns into guns and drugs bust | Miami Herald Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. Tipsters may remain anonymous. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp 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. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. Deputy Megan Faison wrote in her report that she asked a 22-year-old female passenger in the front seat to roll her window all the way down so he could safely look inside the car, since it had dark tinted windows. Feds charge Florida Keys woman and Homestead man with dealing Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. line-height:115%; ~Editor. 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. Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. EN-US false An official confided that at least a half dozen hand guns were taken from the suspects. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. Florida Keys Drug Arrests | Robertson & Hunter, LLP Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Book captures Keys' drug-running heyday it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. "They're also making counterfeit pills that, they're multiple colors laced with fentanyl, so they're marketing to younger and younger people," Staly 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. I was with him at breakfast that morning when he had to leave Mister Jims Restaurant when he heard about the bust on US1 Radio while it was playing in the background. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. Several weapons were also found at the scene. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. By Citizen Staff. Traffic stop results in drug bust | Mile Markers | keysnews.com Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. Ruff arrest: K9 busts alleged drug trafficker in Florida Keys - WPLG The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. - A major drug bust led deputies to 120 gallons of liquid meth being transported in buckets by suspects from Georgia to Florida, overseen by a "mastermind" who ran the operation from federal prison, officials said Thursday. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. He didnt. The search by Special Operations detectives revealed a crack cocaine lab at the 2nd street location that contained powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and about 350 grams of marijuana packaged for sale. Miami man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. Contact Us The cowboys would jump into their go-fast boats that were kept docked at the seawall next to their house, and zoom out to where the floating bales were. K9 Coral assisted in the arrest of a Key West woman who faces drug trafficking and possession charges. 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. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; false WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. 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 They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. Deputies drove him to the COVID-19 checkpoint at mile marker 112.5 on U.S. 1, where his parents picked him up, Linhardt said. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. Law enforcement officers raided a Keys smugglingoperation Saturday and busted an assortment of KeyWests establishment: the head of the Sears mensdepartment, a Chevrolet dealer, w Pepsi Cola truckdriver and a county commissioners uncle. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. 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. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. Miami's independent source of Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs found along coast of Florida Keys Detectives also found more $1,700 in cash, a handgun, and what appeared to be a pipe bomb, to which the Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad responded. A 71-year-old Keys drug dealer was busted, police said - Miami On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. 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. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. 6 to Know: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina, Search - NBC 6 South Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Reed Bryan Bell, 55, of Islamorada, was also arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and Markus Dyer, 31, of Big Pine Key, was arrested on charges of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. 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. WebNo. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. independent local journalism in Miami. mso-para-margin-left:0in; The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. WebDeputies arrested a 46-year-old Key West woman on multiple drug charges after a traffic stop on Big Pine Key yielded a litany of pills, FLORIDA KEYS. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. Canon 77d Focus Peaking, What Are The Disadvantages Of Selective Breeding, Jd Sumner Funeral, Where Can I Cash A Draftkings Check, Articles F