WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Florida authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl as part of an undercover drug trafficking bust. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. font-size:11.0pt; Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. Theyre accused of selling crack The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. Jul 17, 2021. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. independent local journalism in Miami. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. 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. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. 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. The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. 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. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 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. 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. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. 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. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. drug bust #breakingnews #florida. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. 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. 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. 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. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. 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. 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. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. 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. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's 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. 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. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. 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. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida Keys I was with him at breakfast that morning when he had to leave Mister Jims Restaurant when he heard about the bust on US1 Radio while it was playing in the background. 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. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. Marathon couple charged with possession in drug bust WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. 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. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. Miami man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida 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. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. She might be cute. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. 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. line-height:115%; The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. 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. WebNo. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. A 71-year-old Keys drug dealer was busted, police said - Miami Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs, and cash 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. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. 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. Mastermind behind largest meth seizure in Polk history was The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. 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. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. 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 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. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. Tipsters may remain anonymous. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. Florida Keys - Miami Herald Harry, he replied. 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. 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. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. 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. 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. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Traffic stop results in drug bust | Mile Markers | keysnews.com There might have been something else,but it escapes me. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. He didnt. The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Join the New Times community and help support 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. Miami's independent source of A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested following a search of their residence Traffic stop results in drug bust. 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. 6 to Know: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina, Search - NBC 6 South These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. 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. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. 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. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. tons of seized cocaine, marijuana worth over "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. An official confided that at least a half dozen hand guns were taken from the suspects. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. 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. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. 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. 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. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. 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. 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. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. All rights reserved. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. 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. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. 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. 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. drug bust FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. false (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered All three were arrested and taken to jail. K9 Coral assisted in the arrest of a Key West woman who faces drug trafficking and possession charges. 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. 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. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He said then that he had gone to get his brother Sergio, 40. - 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. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. 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. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. false bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. 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. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? 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. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. 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. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs.