florida keys drug bust

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. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. 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. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. mso-style-priority:99; Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Miami, FL 33141 Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. On March 21. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. font-size:11.0pt; On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; false Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. 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. I hoped I could talk my way out of there. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. 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. 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. 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. 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. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. 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. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. "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. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. Geiger Key Resident: Jamardo, 10 Egret Lane, Key West Residents: Francisco Hernandez, 3000 Flagler Ave.Antonio Hernandez, 1803 Atlantic Blvd.Sergio Galvan, 373E Paula St.Domingo Galvan, 1612 United St.Richard Allen Shank, 3533 Flagler Ave.Manuel Sanchez, 1122 Watson St.Antonio Sanchez, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; Galvan returned from Cuba aboard the Blanchie III and was the first Cuban-American to announce that Cuba had opened the harbor to the Freedom Flotilla. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's detectives and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team gathered information for over a month's time, leading them to serve two search warrants simultaneously--- one on 2nd street and one on 11th avenue in Stock Island. All three were arrested and taken to jail. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. The investigation started a month ago. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. 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. 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. WebThe U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that it was offloading a record-shattering amount of cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 0 A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. 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 was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; line-height:115%; 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. Florida authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl as part of an undercover drug trafficking bust. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. 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. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. WebNo. Tipsters may remain anonymous. She graduated from Indiana University. WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. This is a very small list of vessels confiscated by Major Seals Agents in just one or two years during the heyday of Keys pot smuggling. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. 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. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 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. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. A Key West woman faces drug trafficking and possession charges after a bust that was assisted by K9 cop Coral, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office says. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. 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. Oct 23, 2020. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County 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. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; 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. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. 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. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. It was a routine bust.. Normal A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it Florida Gov. 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. mso-style-parent:""; Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. Crime 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. 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. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. 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. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. false Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Authorities said it the mostdefendants in a single Keys bust and among the most everin any Florida bust. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. 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. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. 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. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. 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. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Deputies said they found Alvarez-Bermudez in possession of 22.7 grams of cocaine more than three-quarters of an ounce along with $10,182 cash they suspect came from illicit drug sales. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. EN-US and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. 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. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. 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. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. Miami's independent source of Harry, he replied. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. 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. WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables resident still refuses to sell decades-old home surrounded by massive development, Broward County pastor faces several fraud, grand theft charges after defrauding church, Gunman dead after hours-long SWAT standoff at SW Miami-Dade apartment complex, Police: Man fatally shot 3-year-old son, himself inside Coconut Grove condo, Police arrest student who made false bomb threat at Dillard High School; classes resume. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. independent local journalism in Miami. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. 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. 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. 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. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners.

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