drug bust 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. 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. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. She might be cute. "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. mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? independent local journalism in Miami. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. 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. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. "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. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. 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. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. 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. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. 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. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. 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. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. 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. 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. false 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. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust NBC 6 South Florida 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. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. The illegal of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. Traffic stop results in drug bust. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. 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. tons of seized cocaine, marijuana worth over Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; I was just a hanger-on, not a player. Jul 17, 2021. 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. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Big Pine 29 Bust 1980 BigPineKey.com At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. BIG PINE KEY, Fla. Just days after helping bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys, Monroe County Sheriffs Office K9 Coral is at it again. Miami, FL 33141 Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. X-NONE 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it 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. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. - 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. 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. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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. On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. 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. 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. 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. Oct 23, 2020. 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. 29. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. "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. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. Miami man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida 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. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. mso-para-margin-top:0in; 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. 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. All three were arrested and taken to jail. He didnt. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. All rights reserved. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of 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 three alleged organizational leaders were identified as Brandon Huff, 35, and Jonathan Walker, 42, both of Cocoa, and Megan Wilborn, 31, of Merritt Island. Law enforcement arrests 83 people in 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. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! bust By Citizen Staff. 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. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. "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. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. Florida They were too many of them and they were too obvious. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. 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. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. 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. 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. 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.