independent local journalism in Miami. - 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. Its like a big family reunion with five or sixfamilies, said another officer, gazing at the crowd ofkin that included two defendants in this yearscelebrated Key West Cop Case. On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. Theyre accused of selling crack These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Authorities said it the mostdefendants in a single Keys bust and among the most everin any Florida bust. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. local news and culture, The #Florida @USCG Cutter Valiant took down a narco sub carrying 12k lbs of cocaine in the #EasternPacific, cutting approximately $165 mil from smuggler pockets.More info and photos here: https://t.co/mSb28nTIzF pic.twitter.com/hS5kRVtV3f, Someone was dreaming of a white ChristmasApproximately 74 lbs of cocaine was found by a fisherman about 15 miles offshore and south of Sugarloaf Key in federal waters.All packages were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. It was a routine bust.. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. 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. By Citizen Staff. I hoped I could talk my way out of there. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. false Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. 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. 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. WebA Florida Keys man was pulled over by Monroe County sheriffs deputies, who said they found a lot of marijuana, several handguns and two runaways from Miami-Dade County. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. 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. 1401 79th Street Causeway 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. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. 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. mso-para-margin-top:0in; #BorderPatrol agents have responded to multiple drug washups & seized approx. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. 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. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. Because the defendants were charged in federal court instead Circuit Court, Customs took the marijuana to Miami saving the sheriffs department the burden of storing it. 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. On March 21. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. Big Pine 29 Bust 1980 BigPineKey.com A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested following a search of their residence Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. 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. 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. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. mso-style-noshow:yes; The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; X-NONE Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida Keys 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 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. Mastermind behind largest meth seizure in Polk history was and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. 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. 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. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. There was the time in the 1970s when square grouper was code for a bale of marijuana that was thrown overboard when the water cops showed up. drug bust See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. 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. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. #breakingnews #florida. Fentanyl bust: Enough drugs seized to kill half of Florida, Attorney /* Style Definitions */ 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. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. 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. EN-US 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. 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. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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. Law enforcement arrests 83 people in ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. 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. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County 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. 0 The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. Florida Gov. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. 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. The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Contact Us The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. mso-style-parent:""; Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it 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. Florida Keys Drug Arrests | Robertson & Hunter, LLP Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. 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. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Ruff arrest: K9 busts alleged drug trafficker in Florida Keys - WPLG Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs 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. Over 100 arrested in massive Florida drug bust after months Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. Harry, he replied. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. "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. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. 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. 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. Francisco Hernandez, 58, an engineer for the Key West City Electric System and a former civilian fire fighter at the Key West Naval Air Station. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. 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. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. Feds charge Florida Keys woman and Homestead man with dealing Record drug bust: $1.4 billion worth of cocaine and marijuana Oct 23, 2020. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. 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. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. 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. false Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? All rights reserved. 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. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. 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. drug bust A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} 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. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marathon couple charged with possession in drug bust WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. table.MsoNormalTable Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 "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. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. false Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 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. 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. 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. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off 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. "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. 6 to Know: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina, Search - NBC 6 South If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. 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. Plumber Fermin Tapia, 41, of 1701 Jamaica Dr.Vicente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.Fisherman Enrique Blasco, 19, 1504 Laird St.Two Friends Fish Co. fishermen Jose Monzon Garcia, 44,Key West Villas No. Florida Keys traffic stop turns into guns and drugs bust | Miami Herald Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. Book captures Keys' drug-running heyday The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. A 71-year-old Keys drug dealer was busted, police said - Miami
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florida keys drug bust