One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. 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. 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. 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. 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. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. 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. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. - 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. 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. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. She might be cute. Normal Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. 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. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. 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. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. 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. Oct 23, 2020. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Miami, FL 33141 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 ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it 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. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar confirmed that agents have responded to numerous drug wash-ups since the start of the month, seizing about 27 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of cocaine. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. 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. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. It was a routine bust.. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. 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. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. 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. "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. 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. Plumber Fermin Tapia, 41, of 1701 Jamaica Dr.Vicente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.Fisherman Enrique Blasco, 19, 1504 Laird St.Two Friends Fish Co. fishermen Jose Monzon Garcia, 44,Key West Villas No. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. 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. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. 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. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. The senior citizen also had a 9mm handgun, 189 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale, police said. 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. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. false 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. 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. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. The long process known as coking in police language continued into the evening hours Saturday at the Monroe County Sheriffs Department 30 men rounded up during a pre-dawn marijuana bust were being questioned by officials. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 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. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. Pacheco does not have a concealed carry permit for the weapon, according to the report. 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. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. The only things of note toever happen here was the Spanish landing in the 1600s, the burningdown of the Big Pine Inn in the 1970 and the Big Pine29 Bust in 1980. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. mso-para-margin-right:0in; He said then that he had gone to get his brother Sergio, 40. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. 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. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's 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. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. Crime Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines and possession of a controlled substance. 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. "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. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. 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. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; 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. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. 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. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. He didnt. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. Tipsters may remain anonymous. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. mso-para-margin-top:0in; From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. 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. 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. 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. 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. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". CAKEGATE 2023: Bad Bunny's Restaurant Accused of Gobbling Birthday Girl's Cake, Neighborhood Nazi Jon Minadeo Peddles Hate by the Minute, Affordable New "Micro-Units" Slated for Little River, Edgewater, Sen. Rubio's Permanent Daylight Savings Bill Sees Light of Day Once More, NFL Legend Ray Lewis Joins World Jai-Alai League Board of Directors. Police in Florida issued arrest warrants for over 100 members of a suspected drug gang on Wednesday and seized enough fentanyl to wipe out a large county. 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. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking Theyre accused of selling crack false At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. WFTV Detectives said the organization 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. Several weapons were also found at the scene. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. 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. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. 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. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; The investigation started a month ago. WebNo. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. 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. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. By Citizen Staff. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. 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. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. The amount of opiates seized were "enough to kill every single resident of Brevard County," which has an estimated population of about 590,000 people, according to police. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. 29. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. line-height:115%; WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. 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. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? EN-US In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. 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. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. 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. mso-style-parent:""; The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. mso-style-noshow:yes; 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Contact Us Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. 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. Detectives said the organization was obtaining large quantities of drugs from overseas and distributing them throughout Brevard County, which is about 50 miles east of Orlando.
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