(U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered 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. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said investigators uncovered 75 firearms, 9 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of fentanyl and an undisclosed amount of heroin. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. The investigation started a month ago. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. Contact Us Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. An official confided that at least a half dozen hand guns were taken from the suspects. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. 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. 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 site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. 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. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. 0 This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. It was a routine bust.. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. mso-para-margin-top:0in; We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. 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. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. The amount of opiates seized were "enough to kill every single resident of Brevard County," which has an estimated population of about 590,000 people, according to police. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. 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. 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. Theyre accused of selling crack What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. 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. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. 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. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? 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. 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. #breakingnews #florida. 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. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. 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 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. 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. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. I hoped I could talk my way out of there. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 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. 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. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. 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. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Crime Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with 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. Jul 17, 2021. mso-para-margin-left:0in; 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. mso-para-margin-right:0in; All three were arrested and taken to jail. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. 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. EN-US WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. 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. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. The only person who listed at out-of-state address wasNorman Lee Young, 30, 110 Gum Tree Rd., Hilton Head,S.C. From the Key WestCitizen November 14,1980BySheila Quickstad Citizen Staff Writer. mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 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 A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 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. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. 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 The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. All rights reserved. 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. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. 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 owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. 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. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. Several weapons were also found at the scene. 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. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. 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. X-NONE Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. 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. WebNo. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. #BorderPatrol agents have responded to multiple drug washups & seized approx. Florida authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl as part of an undercover drug trafficking bust. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; Tipsters may remain anonymous. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. 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. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. Join the New Times community and help support Normal At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. Miami's independent source of 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. "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. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. On March 21. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. "Arrest warrants were issued for each of the 100 suspects who have been identified throughout the course of the investigation as sources or distributors of these deadly drugs," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. 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. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. mso-style-noshow:yes; ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. "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. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. "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. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. 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. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida She might be cute. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. Traffic stop results in drug bust. false Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. 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.