Specifically, that includes almost 28,000 pounds of cocaine. In court records detailing several of the arrests, Kevin Choute of Tallahassee is named as the head of the ring. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. U.S. Coast Guard boarding team members climb aboard a suspected smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific in September 2019. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. 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. All Rights Reserved. "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. Due to this cooperative effort, we maintain an offensive against criminal networks and criminal organizations.. Federal agents seize over 17 tons of cocaine in Philadelphia. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. The busts were the result of what appears to be a coordinated effort between numerous Coast Guard crews. Subscribe to the newsletter everyone in Florida is reading. ", Coast Guard's Karl Schultz says this massive cache of drugs is really the collective work of many. 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. AGENTS SEIZED 48 POUNDS OF FENTANYL AND MORE THAN 350 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINES. 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. He allegedly had multiple "stash houses" in town that were raided by police who discovered drugs, cash and guns. (null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}}); Born in Orlando but raised in Lake County, Florida, Jackson Bakich is currently a junior at Florida State University. 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. Florida Department of Law Enforcement | 54K views, 715 likes, 340 loves, 1.3K comments, 502 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from WFLA News Channel 8: FDLE ANNOUNCES 'MASSIVE' DRUG BUST: Florida. Please enter valid email address to continue. All rights reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 2019, more than $1 billion worth of cocaine was seized at the Philadelphia Port, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. FHP: 20-year-old dies after getting ejected from car in Manatee County crash, 20-year-old killed in Manatee County crash, 2023 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts to take over Julian B. The operation is aimed toward removing street-level drugs and drug dealers. While out on bond, officials later learned that Hernandez was still trafficking narcotics. Thank you for your interest in receiving the The Floridian newsletter. Homeland Security Investigations has filed an arrest warrant affidavit which details how Ivan Durasevic and Fonofaavae Tiasaga allegedly coordinated the loading of cocaine onto the vessel. Hernandez's sentencing comes almost nine months after he eventually pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy and possession of firearms on July 27, 2021. Lane Riverfront Park this weekend, Calling all art lovers: 2023 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts returning to Julian B. Firefighters in New Mexico would be free to spark up under a bill introduced by lawmakers in the state. "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. Tampa Bay News, Traffic and Weather wherever you are with NewsRadio WFLA and WFLA News. Sheriff Marceno said the operation is far from over. NBC2 crews were there when the LCSO narcotic and special operations units served one of two search warrants in North Fort Myers. Operation curbside crackdown resulted in a total of 50 arrests, with more pending, said Sheriff Carmine Marceno. While several arrests were made in Tallahassee, a large part of the operation ran through Gadsden County. Aug. 30, 2019, 4:32 PM PDT. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) crew members palletize bales of contraband on the cutters flight deck following an at-sea interdiction of a low-profile go-fast vessel during Bertholf's patrol of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Nov. 4, 2019. The two agreed to meet that day at an apartment complex parking lot, authorities say. Durasevic later allegedly told agents that he was paid $50,000 for his role in the scheme. 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. TAMPA, Fla. A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after conspiring to distribute hundreds of grams of substances containing methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. The arrest affidavit says that the drugs were found upon search of the vessel in seven separate shipping containers, as we have reported. 54 people arrested following Charlotte County drug operation by NBC2 News 5:16 PM EDT, Sat July 02, 2022 A A CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. - 54 people have been arrested and another eleven are still at. #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. Coast Guard Officials with the Coast Guard say they offloaded a massive amount of seized drugs, totaling over $1 billion, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. GAIL: DEALERS ARE ALSO DISGUISING THE DRUGS TO LOOK LIKE CANDY. Massive Drug Busts Off Pacific Coast The Coast Guard detailed their multiple drug busts in a press release published yesterday. This is just the latest in a series of large drug busts by the Coast Guard. 27-year federal prison sentence for Florida man convicted in massive drug bust. There were seven separate vessels intercepted, including one "self-propelled semi-submersible vessel (SPSS) or narco submarine," officials said. 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. The DEA, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota Police Department and Bradenton Police Department investigated this case. Henry Ridgwell. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. 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." Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his house and agents found 31 kilograms of meth, 756 grams of cocaine and about 523 grams of heroin. Nearly $400 Million In Marijuana, Cocaine Seized By Coast Guard In Florida. Tiasaga allegedly told agents that it was Durasevic who operated the crane that brought on the bales of the cocaine after the MSC Gayane was approached by six separate boats during the night while the ship was sailing between Panama and Coronel. Contact him at peter.martinez@cbsnews.com. 25 2023. Yesterday in my community, the Sheriff called about another massive drug bust where they found another brick of fentanyl with a border cartel stamp. For example, Rear Admiral of the Colombian Navy, Jose Jauquin Amezquita Garcia said: Drug trafficking is a tragedy and a threat that is taking lives and tearing apart urban and suburban communities in the United States as well as small villages in the rural areas of Colombia., Your email address will not be published. Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. He allegedly told the feds that Tiasaga was one of the crew members who helped him load the cocaine. The drugs had a value of more than $165 million. 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. Florida AG announces prosecution of Mexican fentanyl gang Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) on the massive fentanyl bust of traffickers tied to Mexican mafia. WIN!! Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York. More to come. Additionally, two rifles were found, both belonging to Hernandez. "Unfortunately, shipping and logistics companies are from time to time affected by trafficking problems. Email: Diversenewmedia@gmail.com. Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. The United States Coast Guard made a billion dollar drug bust of the coast of south Florida on Thursday. In a tweet posted Saturday, City of Miami Police Cmdr. 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. 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. Massive drug bust at sea worth $1.06 billion recovered in Florida Ishshah Padilla 2/18/2022 The Coast Guard conducted a drug bust that led them to 54,500 pounds of cocaine and 15,800. In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. Valspar Final Round Championship Passes, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Pete Williams is an NBC News correspondent who covers the Justice Department and the Supreme Court, based in Washington. >> YOU GOT NO LIGHTS ON AND YOURE BIKING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, MAN. Since 1974, High Times Magazine has been the #1 resource for cannabis news, culture, brands and marijuana legalization laws. He said much of the violent activity connected to the drug ring happened in the rural county west of Tallahassee. These small vessels are designed to smuggle large amounts of contraband while evading law enforcement due to their camouflage and low profile, officials said. Abreustweetsaid "the sale of narcotics will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.". One of the top suspects was murdered during the investigation, which began in June, and his son was charged in another murder. Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested nearly 300 people this week seizing some 600 pounds of illicit drugs, more than 35 . Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. The cooperation among law enforcement went further than that. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. Federal authorities seized 15,000 kilos of cocaine, worth as much as $1 billion, at a Philadelphia shipping port, officials said Tuesday. The 10-day sting was the largest eradication of illegal marijuana cultivations in the history of the department. Methamphetamine destroys lives, degrades communities, and ruins families. We know that the border crisis has turned every town in America into a border town.. The Biden Administration is now sending VA doctors to the border, prioritizing illegals over our veterans, and its disgusting. To subscribe, please submit your email address below. 2023 The Floridian. 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. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. 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. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WESH-TV. Nick is a High Times writer reporting on all things cannabis. 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. "Today's offload is a result of our combined efforts of our inter-agency partners and a dedicated international coalition," said Vice Admiral Steven Poulin, commander Atlantic area. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. The drugs had a value of more than $165 million. Officials with the Coast Guard say they offloaded a massive amount of seized drugs, totaling over $1 billion, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT STRAIGHT AHEAD. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "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. "This amount of cocaine could kill millions MILLIONS of people. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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. By Rob Garguilo. M. Abreu confirmed officers confiscated a large number of drugs from a suspected dealer. 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. This is lawful pressure and resistance that makes our crime rate go down and the quality of life go up, said Sheriff Marceno. Get notified of our the latest cannabis news, exclusive brand deals, events updates and more! BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford held a news conference about a large drug bust. Updated: Oct 13, 2022 / 05:29 AM EDT TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement held a news conference in Tampa to announce the. Deaths linked to cocaine abuse have been on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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