Twelve people were arrested in a Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force drug bust on Maple Avenue late Tuesday, including five who additionally face charges related to membership in a street gang. I think weve uncovered a problem for LAX.. You see, he was the good guy in the community, made the money, shared it with the kids. [TRENDING: How much? Judd used the news conference to make political statements. Possessing a vehicle for drug trafficking (F2) On one occasion on one airline, six suitcases with this drug was smuggled into Orlando. Possession of drug paraphernalia (M1). Learn More. )], Judd said the investigation began in September 2020 when the sheriffs office received information a family in Winter Haven, identified as the Jefferson family, was smuggling large amounts of drugs into Florida from Mexico through California and then to the streets of Central Florida.. Dwayne Kenneth StackhouseSr., 39: Judd said Stackhouse was identified as a large scale cocaine supplier in Central Florida. You can also watch a report by Spectrum Bay News 9's Ashonti Ford in the video above. So what does all that mean? There were also 49 firearms seized and all kinds of other assorted drugs and pills worth $12.8 million, the sheriff said. Judd added that not all of the drugs were destined for our area, but that members of the Juarez and Sinaloa drug cartels had expressed interest in setting up a central Florida hub for distribution. Judd said 85 people were arrested as a result of the investigation and authorities seized 268 pounds of methamphetamine and 6.8 ounces of fentanyl. Large Drug Bust Made During Traffic Stop in Polk County POLK COUNTY, Fla. A multi-agency investigation uncovered an international smuggling operation out of Winter Haven that brought drugs into Central Florida, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. Darmonte Munson, 30: Sheriff's officials said a piece of luggage that was intercepted was slated for Munsons residence at514 Lake Dexter Blvd. The Sheriff's Office learned that Brian Stanton, an inmate at United States Penitentiary Atlanta, was directing the sale and delivery of meth in Polk County, the release said. Richard Tribou is the Senior Content Editor for Audience, and Space and Cruise reporter for the Orlando Sentinel. Experts say that most large-scale drug smugglers useports of entry and drugs are not carried by people illegally crossing the border on foot. He was arrested Tuesday, and charged with 25 counts conspiracy to sell cocaine, conspiracy to sell marijuana, conspiracy to purchase marijuana, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony. Large Drug Bust Made During Traffic Stop in Polk County. He was released from jail after posting $24,500 bond. Polk sheriff says multi-agency effort busts Winter Haven The 24 orange buckets displayed at the news conference were of the same type used by the traffickers and symbolized the amount of liquid meth seized, Judd said. Members of HSI in Atlanta and Tampa, U.S. Border Patrol and the Snellville Police Department in Georgia stood behind Judd at Thursdays news conference. We bought and made predicate cases for the wiretap throughout the two ensuing years, but we couldnt get to the top and link the organization together. More:Polk County Sheriff's Office: Winter Haven man fatally shot by officer Saturday night, More:3 Polk County deputies charged with felonies related to evidence tampering, More:Body cameras revisited after suspect fatally shot by Winter Haven police. Undercover officers then arranged to buy meth, which would be shipped from Georgia to Polk County. Press Release. According to a release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the drug trafficking organization also has ties with the Mexican drug cartel. A fourth, 1140 Dugdown Road, was listed in Buchanan. They learned her supplier was Nareo Lewis after she asked an undercover detective to drive her to his home on Colorado Avenue so she could pick up 7 grams of fentanyl. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Possession of marijuana with intent to sell (F3) WINTER HAVENPolk County Sheriff Grady Judd stood beside a table piled with bags of crystal methamphetamine and a pyramid of plastic buckets. Deputies said Radina had 12 grams of fentanyl on her when she was arrested. Sibley said the investigation is ongoing and could yield further arrests. Detectives executed a search warrant in Winter Haven and seized a pound of methamphetamine while continuing to make undercover narcotics purchases from that point forward from dealers throughout the area. The investigation, labeled Operation Dirty Water,has yielded six arrests so far, including a Winter Haven woman and others linked to a Mexican drug cartel, Judd said. There needs to be a deep dive into the baggage handling and to see where the hookup was to allow suitcase after suitcase after suitcase to get through the scanning with no clothes inside no evidence of clothes inside just drugs, he said. A recent traffic stop by Wisconsin State Patrol Troopers on a vehicle in the Town of Sarona, Washburn County led to the seizure of heroin, marijuana, mushrooms, ecstasy pills, prescription pills, a digital scale, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia along with nearly $1,500 in cash. About - Abuse - Contact Us - Disclaimers - Donate - Privacy Policy - Terms of Use -, 2020-2021 - Cop Blaster: Police Misconduct Reporting & Monitoring -, The Future of Law Enforcement Accountability, Jonathan Mcmillen-Memphis Informant-Snitch- Lil Wyte Affiliate, Sue Your Snitch! POLK COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Polk County Sheriffs Department arrested five people Wednesday on drug possession and distribution charges, rescuing three children as well. During the investigation, Stanton, from within the federal prison in Atlanta, coordinated and arranged with undercover detectives the purchase and delivery of approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine from Georgia to Polk County, Florida. The mastermind of the drug-trafficking network ran it from inside the United States Penitentiary Atlanta, where he is an inmate, he said. The liquid methoriginated in Mexico and was smuggled across the border to Palacios, Judd said. He is currently in Fulton County Jail with a $100,000 bond. The street value on all of this is $54 million dollars@PolkCoSheriff on the largest drug bust Polk County has ever seen. First published on May 3, 2021 / 12:45 PM. The sheriffs office received a call Wednesday about a young child walking alone on US Highway 190 in the Onalaska area. Those arrested on Polk County charges are: 37-year-old Amber Caysonwho resides at3237 Xerxes Avenue NW, Winter Haven. Cayson is charged with: Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. Vincent Thomas, 35, of Lake Wales was arrested for: Trafficking in Cocaine 400 grams or more (1 count) Possession of marijuana with intent to sell (1 count) Conspiracy to traffic cocaine 28 grams or more (4 counts) Conspiracy to sell cocaine (9 counts) Conspiracy to purchase cocaine (1 count) Conspiracy to sell marijuana ( 141 counts) Conspiracy to purchase marijuana ( 5 counts) Unlawful use of a two-way device (1 count) Possession of marijuana over 20 grams (1 count) Possession of drug paraphernalia (1 count) Possession of oxycodone (1 count) Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (1 count) Possession of prescription medication without a prescription (1 count) Maintaining a structure to sell drugs (1 count)His criminal history includes 173 felonies and 16 misdemeanors. "He was the one who really put together the trips from LAX to Florida," Judd said. On Tuesday, detectives searched another one of his residences, 2245 5thSt.NE in Winter Haven, and found large amounts of illegal narcotics, along with scales and paraphernalia, and two firearms a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9mm handgun. The investigation began in September 2020, officials said, when detectives executed a search warrant in Winter Haven and seized a pound of methamphetamine. Because of his leadership and his eagerness to help us with this operation and because we partnered across city, state and federal lines, this is how this happens, Judd said, because this is an international drug-smuggling operation that came all the way down to your child in Polk County, Florida.. The sheriff said the drugs were smuggled in suitcases through domestic flights from LAX. We will continue to follow up leads and make more arrests, so those who think they got away from us think again.. Grady Judd, Sheriff, Investigation Summary: Download it here. Citizens Insurance customer left confused, frustrated after new flood insurance policy, FHP: 1 dead, 2 in the hospital after crash in Manatee County, 10 Weather: Sunny skies and nice temperatures this week, Tornado watch over for parts of Tampa Bay area. WebUse this page to report what appears to you as a possible violation of controlled substances laws and regulations. Drug Trafficking Investigation Yields Police say they seized: 268 pounds of Methamphetamine ($9,725,040 street value) 31 pounds of Cocaine ($1,405,337 street value) 180 pounds of Cannabis ($1,628,357 There would not be any gang wars and fights if there wasnt a market in the United States and around the world for this stuff, Judd said. Sheriff Grady Judd said surveillance video from the gas station showed people in masks running up to the totaled vehicle and grabbing items from the car's trunk before deputies arrived at the scene. His criminal history includes 11 arrests in Georgia to include charges of DUI, trafficking in methamphetamine, willful obstruction of law enforcement, and driving without a license. It resulted in the largest volume of methamphetamine seized during a joint investigation. Overall, the investigation seized 268 pounds of meth as well as 6.8 ounces of fentanyl and 48 firearms. He said it was the largest drug sting in Polk County history, with its main operations based in Winter Haven. International drug trafficking ring busted in Polk County Ken Suarez reports. And then because of HSI, because of the leadership of these professionals who are with me today and others who couldnt make it, we were able to take it from the street level all the way back to the distribution point.. HSI agents and Georgia officers searched those and other locations, arresting three men and seizing 1,416 pounds of crystal and liquid meth, the release said. Instead of it being delivered by mail, undercover deputies instead paid her a visit for controlled delivery of the drug. In February 2022, detectives received a court order for a wiretap and began monitoring suspects, officials said. Meers is charged with: Read More. Demarcus Terrell Jefferson, 32: Sheriff's officials say detectives heard Jefferson and other family members were smuggling drugs on flights and made several undercover drug purchases at his home at 2073 9th Lane NE in Winter Haven. 5 suspects arrested Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the trafficking of drugs was masterminded by a man behind bars. Officials say they recovered Among the 85 suspects arrested, Judd singled out six that he called "ringleaders.". Mason was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified the location of the suspects home base. ( NewsNation) Florida authorities say 85 people were arrested in connection to an international drug trafficking ring in Polk County. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Judd praised Sibley for leading the operation. WebFind out who's a rat by searching our snitch list containing information about known confidential informants, state's witnesses, and other snitches from our database. Those props illustrated Judds announcement Thursday morning of what he said was the largest methamphetamine bust in the history of the Polk County Sheriffs Department, netting the seizure of more than $53 million in illegal drugs. Updated: Nov 4, 2021 / 10:53 PM CDT. March 22, 2023. While searching one of the lab locations, federal and local officers discovered and dismantled an illegal cock-fighting ring headed by Isidoro Palacios, 59, of College Park, Georgia, the PCSO said. ). The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the investigation started in September 2020, when 32-year-old Demarcus Jefferson crashed his car into a Winter Haven gas station, killing a customer inside. Palacios has also been arrested in Florida three times for driving without a license. They make money off the misery of others. Orlando International Airport raises parking prices | Win tickets to watch Artemis 1 rocket launch | Video shows large gator eating another alligator in Silver Springs | Become a News 6 Insider (its free! / CW44 Tampa Bay. 2023 www.theledger.com. 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