mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. X-NONE Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 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. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. She might be cute. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. mso-style-parent:""; This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Oct 23, 2020. 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. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. 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. 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. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. 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. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. #breakingnews #florida. All rights reserved. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. 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. 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. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. 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. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. 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. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? 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. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. independent local journalism in Miami. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. 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 Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. I hoped I could talk my way out of there. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. 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. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. K9 Coral assisted in the arrest of a Key West woman who faces drug trafficking and possession charges. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. 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. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. 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. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. 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. He said then that he had gone to get his brother Sergio, 40. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. He didnt. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. 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. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. 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. 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. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. 29. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. 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. 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. Miami's independent source of The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off 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. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. 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. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. 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. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. 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. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking 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. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. 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. false Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. 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. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. All three were arrested and taken to jail. 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. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. 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. 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. "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. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's 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 senior citizen also had a 9mm handgun, 189 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale, police said. 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. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. The illegal false One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; Authorities said it the mostdefendants in a single Keys bust and among the most everin any Florida bust. 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. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. EN-US 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. "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. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. "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. 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. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. 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. 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. 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. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. Deputies said they found Alvarez-Bermudez in possession of 22.7 grams of cocaine more than three-quarters of an ounce along with $10,182 cash they suspect came from illicit drug sales. WFTV Detectives said the organization Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. By Citizen Staff. 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. On March 21. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. mso-para-margin-top:0in; Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. 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. 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. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. Theyre accused of selling crack The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton brought 26,250 pounds of cocaine and 3,700 pounds of marijuana to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale -- the largest drug interdiction in the ship's history. 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. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. 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. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. 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. 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. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities.