Following his arrest, Hernandez took agents to his home where law enforcement officials discovered 800 grams of heroin, 4 more kilograms of meth, 13 guns and assorted ammunition inside the house. While out on bond, officials later learned that Hernandez was still trafficking narcotics. Attorneys offices across various districts to bring justice to those responsible for the illegal shipments. The entire 18,000 pounds of drugs seized were off-loaded in San Diego Wednesday. Since 1974, High Times Magazine has been the #1 resource for cannabis news, culture, brands and marijuana legalization laws. WESH 2S GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN JOINS US IN THE STUDIO WITH MORE ON THIS OPIOID CRISIS. The crisis ends when Republicans take back the House and the Senate and we secure this border.. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) announced operation 'curbside crackdown' lead to 50 arrests in a massive narcotics and gun bust at a North Fort Myers. Example video title will go here for this video. In total, nearly 30 pounds of cocaine, half a pound of meth, more than a pound of brown heroin, three ounces of black tar heroin, two ounces of Fentanyl, $330,000 in cash, nine firearms and three . Federal authorities seized 15,000 kilos of cocaine, worth as much as $1 billion, at a Philadelphia shipping port, officials said Tuesday. 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. IE 11 is not supported. Two crew members have been arrested. Authorities from other countries also spoke to the U.S. media about the busts. Journalists: Javier Manjarres, Daniel Molina, , Isabel Webb Carey, Jackson Bakich, James McCool, Michelle Rosenberg,Yendi Alvarez, Mateo Guillamont and Grayson Bakich 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. Back in July 2019, law enforcement officials caught up with Victor Manuel Hernandez of Wimauma, Florida, when a "confidential source" spoke with Hernandez and ordered a kilogram of meth, according to court documents obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office of Florida's Middle District. #BREAKING @USCG Cutter James' crew offloaded approximately 59,700lbs of cocaine and 1,430lbs of marijuana worth more than $1.4 billion, Thurs., @PortEverglades, the largest offload in #CoastGuard history.#Partnerships @Southcom @RoyalCanNavy Read more: https://t.co/8QaTcIUtv2 pic.twitter.com/O5SZWVQOOQ. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, Top Dems push Fox News to stop promoting "propaganda" about 2020 election, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Pandemic-era food benefits end for millions of Americans as costs rise. Sheriff Marceno said during the investigation they seized57 grams of cocaine, 620 grams of methamphetamine, 497 grams of fentanyl, eight guns, and more than $300,000. Tom Winter is a New York-based correspondent covering crime, courts, terrorism and financial fraud on the East Coast for the NBC News Investigative Unit. Video released by the U.S. Coast Guard shows crew members from the Bertholf intercepting a "low-profile go-fast vessel" while on patrol in November. Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. By Catie Beck and Michael Kosnar. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) announced operation curbside crackdown lead to 50 arrests in a massive narcotics and gun bust at a North Fort Myers drug house. Required fields are marked *. Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. By Rob Garguilo. In particular, the Coast Guards press release stated that the drugs came from 18 separate drug related interdictions. MSC has a longstanding history of cooperating with U.S. federal law enforcement agencies to help disrupt illegal narcotics trafficking and works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)," the statement said. SHERIFF RICK STALY SAYS IN FLAGLER COUNTY, OVERDOSES RANGE FROM AGE 18 TO THE 60S. Peter joined CBS News Digital in February 2017. Deputy First Class Jasmine. Tampa Bay News, Traffic and Weather wherever you are with NewsRadio WFLA and WFLA News. He is a former News and Homepage Editor who has covered everything from breaking news to Sunday night award shows. Aug. 30, 2019, 4:32 PM PDT. The Lee County Sheriff's Office announced Operation Narco Navidad netted over $1.1 million, as well as kilos of cocaine and a . The U.S. Coast Guard has seized over 18,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $312 million in a series of drug busts in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The arrest affidavit says that the drugs were found upon search of the vessel in seven separate shipping containers, as we have reported. Melonie Holt "We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE, Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. The court document says that Durasevic, the crew's second mate, admitted his role in bringing the cocaine on the vessel. Your email address will not be published. This is lawful pressure and resistance that makes our crime rate go down and the quality of life go up, said Sheriff Marceno. According to NBC Miami, the Coast Guard Cutter James dropped off the 54,500 pounds of cocaine and 15,800 pounds of marijuana during the bust at the Broward County port. ", Coast Guard's Karl Schultz says this massive cache of drugs is really the collective work of many. JUICE Florida Politics' Juicy Read 2.28.2023 Florida's War on Drugs ContinuesFentanylFrost, Scott, Wasserman SchultzMuch More Salazar, Gimenez Condemn DHS for Facility Fiasco, Cammack, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Prevent Criminals Profiting Off Border Crisis, Cammack Reiterates Republicans Won't be Cutting Social Security, Medicare, Strategic Production Act Passes Along Party Lines. "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. Numerous agencies from the Department of Defense and Homeland Security participated in the drug busts, including members of the Navy, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI and the DEA. The United States Coast Guard made a billion dollar drug bust of the coast of south Florida on Thursday. So large, in fact, that the agency is now back on the mainland to offload several hundred million dollars worth of illegal substances. Due to this cooperative effort, we maintain an offensive against criminal networks and criminal organizations.. Last Squeeze2.28.2023House Democrat Calls DeSantis as 'Fascist' Border CrisisMore Gaetz, Waltz Question Veracity of Ukraine Funding, Frost Calls DeSantis a Fascist: 'I Don't Care What Anyone Says. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. In total, more than 3,100 pounds of cocaine were seized from the vessel on Nov. 4, according to a U.S. Department of Defense release. AGENTS SEIZED 48 POUNDS OF FENTANYL AND MORE THAN 350 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINES. >> IT IS ENOUGH TO KILL 66 OUT OF THE 67 COUNTIES POPULATION HERE IN FLORIDA. The 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. GAIL: ON WEDNESDAY, FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHLEY MOODY ANNOUNCED THE ARREST OF A MASSIVE VIOLENT GANG OPERATION IN FLORIDA LINKED TO MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. The Coast Guard detailed their multiple drug busts in a press release published yesterday. This is one of the largest drug seizures in United States history," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania William McSwain tweeted. WIN!! Perez said suspects would come to Tallahassee to conduct business then hide out in Gadsden where there are fewer law enforcement resources. There were seven separate vessels intercepted, including one "self-propelled semi-submersible vessel (SPSS) or narco submarine," officials said. Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. 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. The Coast Guard reported that it will do so at Port Everglades. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing, Staly said.Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. The interdictions all took place in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coasts of the U.S., Mexico, and several other countries. Twitter: @JavManjarres Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Plans are underway to open a cannabis dispensary and consumption lounge in Atlantic City, only steps from the famed Boardwalk. Thank you for your interest in receiving the The Floridian newsletter. JUICE Florida Politics' Juicy Read 3.1.2023 DeSantis's 'The Courage to be Free'Ingoglia Blows Up Florida DemocratsDonalds, Gaetz, Wasserman SchultzMuch More Mills Calls Discharge of Unvaccinated Military "Unlawful Purge", Ingoglia Introduces Bill to "Cancel" Florida Democrat Party. Email: Diversenewmedia@gmail.com. The Biden Administration is now sending VA doctors to the border, prioritizing illegals over our veterans, and its disgusting. The release also included a number of photos and a link to a video. He had previously been convicted of a felony, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, which meant he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law, according to authorities. AG Moody says enough fentanyl seized in massive bust to kill half of Florida, AND WE HAVE MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST TOMORROW. The shipping company MSC thanked federal authorities for making the bust. Investigators believe the ship was loaded with drugs after it left its last port of call in the Bahamas. Now that the Coast Guard has busted up numerous shipments and seized all these substances, it is back on land to offload it all. In particular, several other countries were involved in the effort. All told, the Coast Guard said it confiscated 19 tons of narcotics. Deaths linked to cocaine abuse have been on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illegal narcotics worth more than $1.4 billion was "the largest offload in Coast Guard history," according to a press release. Four Americans have been convicted of drug smuggling charges so far following the arrests of nine Americans at Heathrow Airport in January. He said much of the violent activity connected to the drug ring happened in the rural county west of Tallahassee. According to the agency, the busts were the result of efforts from several Coast Guard vessels and crews, along with law enforcement agencies from several other countries. FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. -- A traffic stop involving. In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Tony Wilson, Jr. (31, LeHigh Acres) to life in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine), heroin, and fentanyl; distribution of fentanyl; and possessing multiple firearms as a convicted felon. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT HIM AND HIS WHEREABOUTS, PLEASE CALL FDLE. THE SITUATION CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AS FORBES TRIED TO RUN AWAY AFTER A DEPUTY FOUND A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE DURING A PAT DOWN. To subscribe, please submit your email address below. / CBS News. He says an additional eight boats brought more cocaine as the vessel moved north between Coronel, Peru and Panama. Two other Coast Guard vessels, the Tahoma and the Midgett, were responsible for seizing over 9,000 pounds of cocaine earlier that month. Methamphetamine destroys lives, degrades communities, and ruins families. According to NBC Miami, the Coast Guard Cutter James dropped . Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) went on Fox News Business on Friday to share with the public that there was a huge drug bust in her district. The confiscated drugs, and the busts they came from, were the result of an operation that reportedly lasted six to eight weeks. In January, Sheriff Michelle Cook, along with her leadership team . April 15, 2022 Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) went on Fox News Business on Friday to share with the public that there was a huge drug bust in her district. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Adult-use cannabis sales in Virginia wont begin before Jan. 1, 2024 as originally planned. The troubling trend began around 2012, before cocaine-related deaths jumped 34 percent from 2016 to 2017, the CDC said. It says that he got a call from the chief officer to go to the deck after the vessel left Peru, at which time he saw nets on the port side (left side facing the bow) by the ship's crane. DEALERS ARE NOT ONLY MARKETING TO EVEN YOUNGER CROWDS, SOME ARE PEDALING THE DRUGS ANY WAY THEY CAN. #BREAKING @USCG Cutter James, @RoyalCanNavy Shawinigan crews offloaded approximately 59,700 lbs of cocaine and 1,430 pounds of marijuana worth more than $1.4 billion, Thursday, at @PortEverglades, which is the largest offload in #CoastGuard history. The Coast Guard Cutter James crew stands aboard the cutter Oct. 28, 2019, Port Everglades, Fla. "MSC takes this matter very seriously and is grateful to the authorities for identifying any suspected abuse of its services," according to a company statement. Each crew was responsible for locating thousands of pounds of drugs between mid-October and early December, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release. Yesterday in my community, the Sheriff called about another massive drug bust where they found another brick of fentanyl with a border cartel stamp. On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel.Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more . Henry Ridgwell. Credit: Sarasota Police Department. The Coast Guard said there were 27 incidents in which suspected drug smuggling vessels were stopped by various American, Dutch and Canadian ships in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This month the DEA made the biggest meth. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) boarding teams interdict a low-profile go-fast vessel while patrolling international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, seizing more than 3,100 pounds of suspected cocaine, Nov. 4, 2019. 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. Along with the cocaine, the Coast Guard also said it seized nearly 11,000 pounds of marijuana. 2023 The Floridian. 18,000 pounds of cocaine, worth over $312 million, is displayed after a drug smuggling bust by the DEO and the U.S. Coast Guard. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. Officials with the Coast Guard say they offloaded a massive amount of seized drugs, totaling over $1 billion, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Coast Guard >> WE HAVE SEEN OUR SEIZURES IN FLAGLER COUNTY IS UP OVER 500% SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO ALL OF LAST YEAR. Drug trafficking impacts entire communities with violence and frequency of drug use, he said. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. Luke Cla/U.S. The bust, containing Mexican Cartel produced fentanyl, enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the state of Florida 11 times over. The congresswoman said. All the media feature images of Coast Guard personnel and tons of seized contraband. . Operation curbside crackdown resulted in a total of 50 arrests, with more pending, said Sheriff Carmine Marceno. South Florida police made a huge drug bust on Friday night. Growing up in the sunshine state, Bakich co-hosted the political talk radio show "Lake County Roundtable" (WLBE), and was a frequent guest for "Lake County Sports Show" (WQBQ). In a tweet posted Saturday, City of Miami Police Cmdr. Firefighters in New Mexico would be free to spark up under a bill introduced by lawmakers in the state. In September, a submarine located in the Pacific Ocean was found with over 12,000 pounds of cocaine onboard, officials said. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. Agents write that additional container seals were brought aboard to re-seal the containers loaded with cocaine. LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Six people were arrested in a massive drug bust at an auto body shop in Lee County. Massive Drug Busts Off Pacific Coast The Coast Guard detailed their multiple drug busts in a press release published yesterday. Some will face prosecution at the circuit level while some are likely to face statewide prosecutors. The Coast Guard says it has confiscated 19 tons of narcotics, including nearly 28,000 pounds of cocaine and about 11,000 pounds of marijuana. On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel.Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines.It is enough to kill 66 out of the 67 counties' population here in Florida, Moody said at the Tampa Bay Regional Operational Center alongside Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents.Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida.