SO THE CARTELS IN MEXICO ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT MARKETING. The release also included a number of photos and a link to a video. Coast Guard Federal authorities in Pennsylvania arrested and charged two of the MSC Gayane's crew members with intentionally conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute. In July, authorities in Southern California seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at the time. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Adult-use cannabis sales in Virginia wont begin before Jan. 1, 2024 as originally planned. The operation, part of joint efforts involving five separate Coast Guard cutter crews, concluded with one vessel, the Bertholf, off-loading the entire amount seized at the marine terminal in San Diego on Wednesday. Yesterday in my community, the Sheriff called about another massive drug bust where they found another brick of fentanyl with a border cartel stamp. Ford gave details on a significant seizure of 235,000 milligrams fentanyl that took pla "The staggering amount of illegal drugs offloaded today is a testament to our strong interagency partnerships in the U.S. and abroad and the success that can be achieved when working together to stop this threat to our country.". Two crew members have been arrested. Specifically, that includes almost 28,000 pounds of cocaine. A traffic stop involving James Forbes Jr. happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night while riding a bike on Palm Avenue in Bunnell. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Publisher: Javier Manjarres @JavManjarres Crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James offloaded approximately 59,700 pounds of cocaine and approximately 1,430 pounds of marijuana. Smuggling Case, Italian Court Rules Hemp Flowers, Leaves are Not Narcotics, University of Arizona Students Launch Expungement Clinic, Virginia Adult-Use Cannabis Plans Halted Due to Failed Bills. In addition to the drugs, police seized an unspecified amount of cash. The United States Coast Guard made a billion dollar drug bust of the coast of south Florida on Thursday. Four Americans have been convicted of drug smuggling charges so far following the arrests of nine Americans at Heathrow Airport in January. >> I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE WAY OF THE CAR. Contact him at peter.martinez@cbsnews.com. Credit: Sarasota Police Department. Twitter: @JavManjarres Agents write that additional container seals were brought aboard to re-seal the containers loaded with cocaine. 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. 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. Get notified of our the latest cannabis news, exclusive brand deals, events updates and more! WIN!! 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. "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. SHERIFF RICK STALY SAYS IN FLAGLER COUNTY, OVERDOSES RANGE FROM AGE 18 TO THE 60S. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. He continued: The James crew conducted counter-drug operations with the cooperative efforts with regional partner nations, like Colombia, Costa Rica and alongside the agencies involved in Operation Martillo to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. South Florida police made a huge drug bust on Friday night. >> WE HAVE SEEN OUR SEIZURES IN FLAGLER COUNTY IS UP OVER 500% SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO ALL OF LAST YEAR. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. 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. 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. Hernandez's sentencing comes almost nine months after he eventually pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy and possession of firearms on July 27, 2021. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. Valspar Final Round Championship Passes, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. LEE COUNTY, Fla. - A former Lee County Sheriff's Office deputy is being investigated for allegedly tipping off a Gateway family involved in a massive drug operation. IE 11 is not supported. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. GAIL: DEALERS ARE ALSO DISGUISING THE DRUGS TO LOOK LIKE CANDY. 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. var gform;gform||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?o():!gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o):document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",o)},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("action",o,n,r,t)},addFilter:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("filter",o,n,r,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook("action",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook("filter",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,n){gform.removeHook("action",o,n)},removeFilter:function(o,n,r){gform.removeHook("filter",o,n,r)},addHook:function(o,n,r,t,i){null==gform.hooks[o][n]&&(gform.hooks[o][n]=[]);var e=gform.hooks[o][n];null==i&&(i=n+"_"+e.length),gform.hooks[o][n].push({tag:i,callable:r,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(n,o,r){var t;if(r=Array.prototype.slice.call(r,1),null!=gform.hooks[n][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[n][o]).sort(function(o,n){return o.priority-n.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){"function"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),"action"==n?t.apply(null,r):r[0]=t.apply(null,r)})),"filter"==n)return r[0]},removeHook:function(o,n,t,i){var r;null!=gform.hooks[o][n]&&(r=(r=gform.hooks[o][n]).filter(function(o,n,r){return!! In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. He says an additional eight boats brought more cocaine as the vessel moved north between Coronel, Peru and Panama. Methamphetamine destroys lives, degrades communities, and ruins families. These small vessels are designed to smuggle large amounts of contraband while evading law enforcement due to their camouflage and low profile, officials said. Perez said as part of acriminal enterprise, many covered their illegal dealings through seemingly legitimate businesses such as recording studios, entertainment venues, trucking companies and auto body shops. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Mark Perez said they were independent organizations that shared suppliers and dealers that ensured a steady supply of drugs in North Florida.. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp 1401 79th Street Causeway Miami, FL 33141 Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 Newsroom: (305) 795-2777 Firefighters in New Mexico would be free to spark up under a bill introduced by lawmakers in the state. On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Investigators haven't released the names of the suspects involved and have not specified whether anyone was taken into custody. August 6, 2021 / 7:49 AM Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. "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. 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 . The drugs have an estimated street value of approximately $1.06 billion. The Lee County Sheriff's Office announced Operation Narco Navidad netted over $1.1 million, as well as kilos of cocaine and a . Phone: (954) 368-9931 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WESH-TV. Authorities from other countries also spoke to the U.S. media about the busts. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. Through our partnership with Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies in Florida and Georgia, our detectives took a huge amount of meth off the street and shut down an active drug trafficker operating out of a federal prison." 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. Victor Manuel Hernandez was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for a narcotics conspiracy involving heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Tampa Bay News, Traffic and Weather wherever you are with NewsRadio WFLA and WFLA News. 2023 The Floridian. Your email address will not be published. Now that the Coast Guard has busted up numerous shipments and seized all these substances, it is back on land to offload it all. AGENTS SEIZED 48 POUNDS OF FENTANYL AND MORE THAN 350 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINES. A major drug ring operating out of Tallahassee had connections to other states and investigators say its members, 27 of whom have been taken into custody, wereresponsible for flooding North Florida with cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and Fentanyl. 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. The arrest affidavit says that the drugs were found upon search of the vessel in seven separate shipping containers, as we have reported. All Rights Reserved. Operation curbside crackdown resulted in a total of 50 arrests, with more pending, said Sheriff Carmine Marceno. They were stationed at a home off Palm Creek Drive. 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