florida keys drug bust

These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County 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. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. 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. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking 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. 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. Traffic stop results in drug bust. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. #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. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. 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. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. X-NONE Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. 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. 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. Oct 23, 2020. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). /* Style Definitions */ She graduated from Indiana University. 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. 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. 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. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. font-size:11.0pt; 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. 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. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. drug bust Traffic stop results in drug bust | Mile Markers | keysnews.com "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. mso-style-parent:""; That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. WFTV Detectives said the organization 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. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust 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. "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. In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. 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. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities 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. 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. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? Miami, FL 33141 The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. Its like a big family reunion with five or sixfamilies, said another officer, gazing at the crowd ofkin that included two defendants in this yearscelebrated Key West Cop Case. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. 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. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. 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. 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. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. On March 21. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. 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. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. Florida Keys Drug Arrests | Robertson & Hunter, LLP 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. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. Join the New Times community and help support line-height:115%; of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Florida Keys - Miami Herald Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. false Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. "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 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. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. 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. They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. 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. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Feds charge Florida Keys woman and Homestead man with dealing WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables resident still refuses to sell decades-old home surrounded by massive development, Broward County pastor faces several fraud, grand theft charges after defrauding church, Gunman dead after hours-long SWAT standoff at SW Miami-Dade apartment complex, Police: Man fatally shot 3-year-old son, himself inside Coconut Grove condo, Police arrest student who made false bomb threat at Dillard High School; classes resume. bust Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. 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. 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. 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. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. 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. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. 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. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida Keys This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! 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. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. These Are the Four Wildest Drug Finds Off the Coast of Florida FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. Normal The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. 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. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. 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. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. 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. The investigation started a month ago. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs found along coast of Florida Keys We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. #breakingnews #florida. tons of seized cocaine, marijuana worth over Fentanyl bust: Enough drugs seized to kill half of Florida, Attorney Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. It was a routine bust.. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. By Citizen Staff. 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. 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. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. Jul 17, 2021. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. She might be cute. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. 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. mso-style-noshow:yes; K9 Coral assisted in the arrest of a Key West woman who faces drug trafficking and possession charges. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested following a search of their residence Contact Us Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. 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. 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. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. 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. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. Miami's independent source of - 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. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. My Favorite Drug-Sniffing Florida Keys Police Florida Keys traffic stop turns into guns and drugs bust | Miami Herald