See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. "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. 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. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Mastermind behind largest meth seizure in Polk history was That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. Hes the uncle of County Commissioner Jerry Hernandez and the brother of former Key West police Chief Eugene Hernandez: Manuel Sanchez, 57, manager of the mens department at Key Wests Sears Roebuck & Co. store in Searstown Plaza on North Roosevelt Boulevard, and his brother Antonio, 54, a jewelry salesman. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. 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. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Thompson said the 4 a.m. drug bust culminated a four week investigation involving members of the Marathon sheriffs sub-station, U.S. Customs and the Marine Patrol. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust NBC 6 South Florida Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it 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. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; /* Style Definitions */ Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. 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. #BorderPatrol agents have responded to multiple drug washups & seized approx. Florida Keys Drug Arrests | Robertson & Hunter, LLP 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. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. 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. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. These square grouper were picked up by cowboys in fast boats who listened to the marine radio day and night for word when there was a dumping. 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. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp All rights reserved. tons of seized cocaine, marijuana worth over The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; 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. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. 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. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. 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. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? 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. Normal WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. All three were arrested and taken to jail. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. "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. 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. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Traffic stop results in drug bust. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. Book captures Keys' drug-running heyday bust Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida 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. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. line-height:115%; it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. She graduated from Indiana University. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. 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. My Favorite Drug-Sniffing Florida Keys Police mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; Big Pine 29 Bust 1980 BigPineKey.com Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. Ruff arrest: K9 busts alleged drug trafficker in Florida Keys - WPLG The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs, and cash mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 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. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he 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. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. 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. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. 1401 79th Street Causeway Marathon couple charged with possession in drug bust mso-style-priority:99; They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. Theyre accused of selling crack #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. -- A traffic stop involving James Forbes Jr. happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night while riding a bike on Palm Avenue in Bunnell. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. 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. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. 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. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. EN-US Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. X-NONE Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. By Citizen Staff. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! Rickie Santiago Pacheco, 23, faces charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, possessing a firearm while committing a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and interfering with the custody of a minor. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. 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 driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. It was a routine bust.. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). KEY 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 says. 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. 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. 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. 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. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. Florida Gov. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; Feds charge Florida Keys woman and Homestead man with dealing Oct 23, 2020. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Reed Bryan Bell, 55, of Islamorada, was also arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and Markus Dyer, 31, of Big Pine Key, was arrested on charges of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. false 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. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. false K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. Florida Keys - Miami Herald A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. Miami, FL 33141 mso-para-margin-top:0in; As the Marine Patrol or Customs would be speeding to intercept a pot boat the people on the pot boat would throw the bales off as fast as they could, trying to get rid of the evidence. The illegal The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 On March 21. 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 The long process known as coking in police language continued into the evening hours Saturday at the Monroe County Sheriffs Department 30 men rounded up during a pre-dawn marijuana bust were being questioned by officials. The lobster boat reportedly was outfitted with sophisticated radar equipment and, as an official described, the biggest engine Ive ever seen. One of the vehicles was said to have a built-in police scanner. Crime Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. mso-para-margin-left:0in; 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. The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. 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. As lawmen gathered near the off-loading site on the bayside of Big Pine Key, a Customs agent was approached by one of the alleged offenders. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. Law enforcement arrests 83 people in A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. A 71-year-old Keys drug dealer was busted, police said - Miami Join the New Times community and help support 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. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. He didnt. "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. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; There might have been something else,but it escapes me. 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. WebA 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. 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 bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. Authorities say they then found the following in the Camry: In addition to the trafficking charge, Gesell also faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance (pills) without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Over 100 arrested in massive Florida drug bust after months mso-style-parent:""; Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 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. "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. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. Jul 17, 2021. Several weapons were also found at the scene. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 Contact Us 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. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. - 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. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. font-size:11.0pt; The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. 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. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. Miami man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. drug bust 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. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband.
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