Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. 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. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. 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. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. independent local journalism in Miami. Several weapons were also found at the scene. line-height:115%; 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. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. 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. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Tipsters may remain anonymous. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested following a search of their residence Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! 1401 79th Street Causeway The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. 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. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. Theyre accused of selling crack Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. 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. 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. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. 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. mso-para-margin-right:0in; With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. All three were arrested and taken to jail. By Citizen Staff. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. 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. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. 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. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. KEY WEST, Fla. A Key West woman faces methamphetamine trafficking and other drug charges after a bust that was assisted by K9 cop Coral, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office says. WebKEY WEST, Fla. A Key West woman faces methamphetamine trafficking and other drug charges after a bust that was assisted by K9 cop Coral, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Harry, he replied. 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. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. The investigation started a month ago. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. 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. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. An official confided that at least a half dozen hand guns were taken from the suspects. "We have seen our seizures in Flagler County is up over 500 percent so far this year compared to all of last year," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. "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. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? WFTV Detectives said the organization Miami, FL 33141 I was just a hanger-on, not a player. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. On March 21. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. 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. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 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. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. 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. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. 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 were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. 0 Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. 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. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. font-size:11.0pt; WebNo. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. 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. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. 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. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. - 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. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. 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. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. 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. 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. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 He didnt. 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. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. 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. 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. mso-para-margin-left:0in; Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. 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. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. 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. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. 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. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. She graduated from Indiana University. 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. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. 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. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-para-margin-top:0in; Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. 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. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. 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. She might be cute. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. mso-style-parent:""; 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. "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. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. 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 men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. EN-US 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. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. Pacheco does not have a concealed carry permit for the weapon, according to the report. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. Everyones a good friend or family of a number ofpeople. Sheriff William A. Freeman said of thesuspects, who were greeted by about 40 red-eyedrelatives at the Monroe County jail as they were booked. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay.