They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. 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. 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. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. Fentanyl bust: Enough drugs seized to kill half of Florida, Attorney Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. 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 That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. 1401 79th Street Causeway The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. 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 traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. ~Editor. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. Theyre accused of selling crack 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. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. Oct 23, 2020. A 71-year-old Keys drug dealer was busted, police said - Miami A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. mso-para-margin-top:0in; 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. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. On March 21. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. Harry, he replied. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's /* Style Definitions */ Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. 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. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. 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. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 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. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it WebNo. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. Record drug bust: $1.4 billion worth of cocaine and marijuana "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. 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. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. 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. mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-style-priority:99; The illegal A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. 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. Florida Keys traffic stop turns into guns and drugs bust | Miami Herald A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested following a search of their residence Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. The senior citizen also had a 9mm handgun, 189 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale, police said. 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. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 29. 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. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. 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. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. 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. bust 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. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. "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. These Are the Four Wildest Drug Finds Off the Coast of Florida Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Authorities confiscated 500 50-pound bales of pot, a 40-foot Marathon-based lobster boat, the Miss Lucy, two trucks, a 1980 Ford van, a Chevy pickup with a camper, a 1979 gold Cadillac and two 24- foot T-craft, boats designed for back-country fishing that arepopularwith smugglers because they can haul huge loads over shallow water at high speed. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. Florida Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; Mastermind behind largest meth seizure in Polk history was 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. Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. X-NONE mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Teen in Vicious Attack on Florida Teacher's Aide to Be Charged as Adult, Given $1M Bond, Ex-UM Football Player Accused of Killing Teammate Granted $850K Bond. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. EN-US Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. Book captures Keys' drug-running heyday Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. mso-para-margin-left:0in; false 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. 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. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. Contact Us FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. 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. Miami's independent source of mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 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. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. 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. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. 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. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Traffic stop results in drug bust | Mile Markers | keysnews.com Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. independent local journalism in Miami. 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. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. 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. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. 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 "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. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. 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. tons of seized cocaine, marijuana worth over At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. font-size:11.0pt; At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. 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. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs found along coast of Florida Keys The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. Crime Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. "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. 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. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. Traffic stop results in drug bust. Marathon couple charged with possession in drug bust Pacheco waived his Miranda rights, according to the report, and told deputies he picked up the 17-year-old in Miami and the 15-year-old in Homestead. Miami man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. 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. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. #breakingnews #florida. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. WebDeputies arrested a 46-year-old Key West woman on multiple drug charges after a traffic stop on Big Pine Key yielded a litany of pills, FLORIDA KEYS. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. 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. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. All rights reserved. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County false Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. 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. 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. 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. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. 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. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. The search by Special Operations detectives revealed a crack cocaine lab at the 2nd street location that contained powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and about 350 grams of marijuana packaged for sale. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. 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. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. 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. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). 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. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust NBC 6 South Florida 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. 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. 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. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Feds charge Florida Keys woman and Homestead man with dealing The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. 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. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. By Citizen Staff. false 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. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33.