The two share policing of Poinciana, a city based in both counties. On April 20, detectives conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 27 in Davenport as Stackhouse was traveling from Orlando. Drug Bust The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests and charges are pending. It resulted in the largest volume of methamphetamine seized during a joint investigation. A short time later, Meers was arrested on a Polk County Sheriff's Office warrant by the Sandy Springs Georgia Police Department during a traffic stop. The investigation, called "Operation Dirty Water," involved more than a dozen law enforcement agencies in Florida and Georgia, including the Polk County Sheriff's Office. When they retrieved the narcotics from Meers' truck, they found luggage with 16 vacuum sealed bags containing approximately 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Over the course of the next year and a half, detectives made undercover narcotics purchases in the Winter Haven area and learned that drugs were being smuggled from California to Orlando via checked luggage on flights. He is in the United States illegally. They found illegal Xanax, carisoprodol pills, and methamphetamine in his backpack. Meers' previous criminal history includes 22 arrests in Georgia to include charges of drug trafficking, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, DUI, battery, theft, fraud, giving a false name to a law enforcement officer, and multiple probation violations. 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. It means that 6.8 ounces of fentanyl could have killed up to 96,000 people, Judd said. HSI investigators have associated this illegal drug trafficking organization with the Juarez Mexican Cartel, a brutally violent cartel known for its targeted executions and violence. Judd said the the operation involved multiple agencies across the state and nation, including the Winter Haven Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, the Orlando Police Department, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, the Fresno, California, Police Department, the Shelby County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol andthe U.S. Department of Homeland Security, among others. Polk drug Officials say they recovered 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. On March 30, 2021, HSI and PCSO undercover detectives arranged to pick up the drugs from inside Meers' personally owned truck near her place of employment in Atlanta. Meers is said to have just been released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence for drug trafficking and is currently on federal probation. 5 vehicles seized (1 was reported as a stolen vehicle) The first and biggest bust occurred on Oct. 12 when Mario Alberto Castro Solache, 29, of Raleigh; Pedro Mondragon, 27, of Lillington; and Ignacio Rodriguez, 28, Bradenton, Florida, were arrested in connection to the largest drug bust in the history of Polk County, Florida. 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.. They make money off the misery of others. Sibley said the investigation is ongoing and could yield further arrests. Approximately 24.8 pounds of THC edibles seized (street value: approximately $8,480) 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. Surprise, were the cops!. He had drugs," Judd said. Mitchell Ware, 68, of Coral Springs was arrested in Broward County for a Polk County warrant for: Conspiracy to purchase marijuana (1 count) Unlawful use of two communication device (1 count). Illegal drugs destroy lives and families, and generate theft and violence in our community, and drug traffickers are profiting from the destruction. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Mason was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. You can call it the Bell Gang Blues rap song.". WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Detectives in Polk County arrested more than two dozen people in a drug trafficking sting following a 16-month undercover investigation. Deputies said Radina had 12 grams of fentanyl on her when she was arrested. ". Both men were living illegally in the United States, Judd said. / CW44 Tampa Bay. Information uncovered during her arrest also led investigators to the location of methamphetamine conversion labs, additional arrests, the discovery of more than a dozen firearms, and the seizure of 1,416 pounds of crystalized and liquid meth. Judd praised Sibley for leading the operation. 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. Detectives also searched his residence at160 Serenity Blvd. 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. He is facing Polk County, Florida charges of: Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified the location of the suspects home base. She is currently in the Polk County Jail with no bond. Conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine (F1) RELATED: Stepfather of boy rescued from abuse by Orlando restaurant manager gets life sentence. When undercover detectives asked about the color, McClain allegedly told them it was dyed blue "in recognition of the Democratic Party.". Palacios is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, theft by receiving stolen property, and animal cruelty (stemming from the illegal rooster fighting ring). Altogether, the suspects have 645 previous charges against them, including 314 prior felonies. Judd appeared with State Attorney Brian Haas and representatives from the U.S. Border Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Winter Haven Police Department and the Osceola County Sheriffs Office to detail the results of a drug sting investigation that included the use of wiretaps for what Judd said was a ring that ran from Mexico to Los Angeles and Fresno, California, and then arriving to Central Florida through domestic flights to Orlando International Airport. 29A drug bust was executed at a Lebanon residence Thursday. According to the Lebanon Police Department, the residence at 603 CL Manier Street has Apr. Its complicated: Insurance commr on premium hikes, Lightnings season ends after OT loss to Maple Leafs, A look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 NFL draft, Lightning fans kept hope alive during series against, Selmons legacy lives on through USF mentorship program, Steinbrenner HS senior trades sports for volunteering, How your electronics will be recycled after Shred-A-Thon, Millions exposed to life-shortening pollution: report, Arthur Jones, first Black USF student-athlete, honored. Polk County drug bust arrest - FOX 5 Atlanta Judd used the news conference to make political statements. 32 charged in Polk County undercover drug trafficking The liquid methoriginated in Mexico and was smuggled across the border to Palacios, Judd said. The wiretap led to 14 search warrants in Auburndale, Davenport, Polk City, Lake Wales, Winter Havenand Riverview, as well as in Fresno, California. "You can go ahead and turn yourself in or you can go to jail tired from running, but you're gonna go to jail," Sheriff Grady Judd said of the three suspects who are still at large, identified as 49-year-old Angela Dunklebarger of Lake Wales, 37-year-old Tavoris Jones of Lake Wales, and 37-year-old Reginald Phillips of Dundee. Polk County undercover detectives conducted a controlled delivery in Winter Haven, Florida, and arrested 37-year-old Amber Cayson, deputies say. I believe that they do and they need to address it, he said. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until MON 8:00 PM EDT, Pinellas County, Coastal Hillsborough County, Coastal Manatee County, Coastal Sarasota County, 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 street value), 3.4 pounds of MDMA/Ecstasy ($84,601 street value), 6.8 ounces of Fentanyl ($26,880 street value), crashed his car into a Winter Haven gas station, killing a customer inside, USF football player arrested for domestic battery, 2-year-old daughter of Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett drowns in swimming pool, Heart attack survivor competes in St. Anthony's triathlon after hospital saved her life, Auburndale man arrested in connection with shooting that left three hospitalized, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation receives one of its largest financial gifts. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd told media on Friday that the investigation, which started in September 2020, resulted in the arrests of 85 suspects who are now facing a He lives in Riverview, but undercover detectives purchased drugs from him in Winter Haven, officials said. Authorities identified 55-year-old Lisa Radina as a dealer. Conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine (F1) When deputies arrested Cayson, they found 2.4 pounds of marijuana, 24 pounds of edible THC-infused products and one pound of methamphetamine, the release said. "As soon as the first sheriffs office deputies showed up, the SUV took off," Murphy said. Federal agents seized a parcel containing about 2,500 generic Xanax pills, PCSO said. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) The Polk County Sheriffs Office said its undercover detectives have been using dating apps to track down a number of people suspected of buying and selling drugs in the area. Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. Within minutes of the wiretap starting, Judd said detectives heard chatter about an unsolved homicide that the Winter Haven Police Departmentis investigating. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaks with reporters on Thursday, April 29. Detectives involved in the investigation also uncovered during "Operation Dirty Water" that the drugs they seized and 6 people they charged had ties to the Jurez Cartel. Please enter valid email address to continue. Judd said the investigation is ongoing and there were suspects the Sheriff's Office was still looking for. "Because he made phone calls, and we have videos from thestore of people running up with masks on going into the trunk and taking items out of the trunk before law enforcement arrived." Apr 29, 2021 WINTER HAVEN -- Law enforcement agencies say a random shipment of pills led them to the biggest meth haul in Polk County history, and broke up a drug ring being directed from a federal penitentiary. Palacios has also been arrested in Florida three times for driving without a license. You can watch the full press conference below. 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! 1 federal inmate charged Man killed by Lake Wales police after fatally shooting K-9, Winter Haven man told 911 dispatcher he shot his father, PCSO says, Haines City Police officer recovering after beingshot during a traffic stop Sunday, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. We seized 20 firearms during this investigation, including rifles, shotguns, handguns, and three stolen guns. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The sheriff also released the following statement following the press conference: Some people still call this low-level, non-violent drugs. International drug trafficking ring busted in Polk County Ken Suarez reports. 2023 www.theledger.com. Grady Judd, Sheriff, Investigation Summary: 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. Experts say that most large-scale drug smugglers useports of entry and drugs are not carried by people illegally crossing the border on foot. Trafficking in methamphetamine (F1) Judd said Samuel was usinga forged Georgia drivers license to evade law enforcement and travel between Florida and California. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Two people suspected of dealing large amounts of fentanyl and other drugs in the Polk County area have been arrested, authorities said Breaking news and weather alerts:Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app, Stay In the Know! Undercover agents arranged a controlled delivery of the pills to Amber Cayson, 37, at 3237 Xerxes Ave. in Winter Haven, the PCSO said. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said their narcotics detectives and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force made 29 arrests in the Lake Wales area and issued arrest warrants for three suspects related to the trafficking, sale and possession of illegal drugs. First published on May 3, 2021 / 12:45 PM. Methamphetamine destroys lives, degrades communities, and ruins families. Sheriff Grady Judd detailed the undercover trafficking operation, which ended with the arrests of three suspects and 11 pounds of fentanyl seized by detectives. All of this drug here was not destined for Polk County, just a piece of it, Judd said. 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.. What are the chances of a fourth stimulus check after Biden's address to Congress? To catch you up to speed, Judd says we'll have to start in January when an envelope shipped from Canada containing 2,544 Xanax pills was intercepted. Example video title will go here for this video. (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Among the 85 suspects arrested, Judd singled out six that he called "ringleaders.". The investigation began in September 2020, officials said, when detectives executed a search warrant in Winter Haven and seized a pound of methamphetamine. They said Radinas criminal history includes a federal charge for drug trafficking in Maryland, and four other drug trafficking arrests in Maryland and New York. March 22, 2023. Possessing a vehicle for drug trafficking (F2) As the investigation progressed, PCSO detectives learned of a suspected drug trafficker in Georgia,37-year-old Brian Stanton, known as "Lil B," who was arranging for the sale and delivery of methamphetamine in Polk County.
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