Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. 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 were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. All three were arrested and taken to jail. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. 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. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. 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. 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. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested following a search of their residence On March 21. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. 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. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. The only person who listed at out-of-state address wasNorman Lee Young, 30, 110 Gum Tree Rd., Hilton Head,S.C. From the Key WestCitizen November 14,1980BySheila Quickstad Citizen Staff Writer. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. table.MsoNormalTable I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. 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. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. Oct 23, 2020. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. 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 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. 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. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. She graduated from Indiana University. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. 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. 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. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. Normal Jul 17, 2021. mso-para-margin-top:0in; Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. 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 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. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. Deputies drove him to the COVID-19 checkpoint at mile marker 112.5 on U.S. 1, where his parents picked him up, Linhardt said. WFTV Detectives said the organization 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. He said then that he had gone to get his brother Sergio, 40. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. 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. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. 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. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. #breakingnews #florida. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. The senior citizen also had a 9mm handgun, 189 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale, police said. 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. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. 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. All rights reserved. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. 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. He didnt. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. Several weapons were also found at the scene. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. 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. The investigation started a month ago. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. 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. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. line-height:115%; That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. 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 The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. Miami's independent source of They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. K9 Coral assisted in the arrest of a Key West woman who faces drug trafficking and possession charges. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. 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. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. 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. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. Theyre accused of selling crack Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. Another was a miniature (three inches long) replica of the old Colt 45. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. false Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. 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. mso-para-margin-left:0in; Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. 29. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. 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. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 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. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered 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. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? Box 713Fisherman Greg Collazo, 25, Gulf Crain HamitFisherman Bernardo Lewis Valiente, 25, 300 East 63rdSt. Dade County residents arrested were: Orlando Vidal Maldonado, 42, 1265 W. Fourth LaneNestor Fernandez, 30, 4572 SW 127th Ct.Coral Fish Market owner Raul Hernandez, 44, 3811 SW88th PlaceRolando Aguiar, 30, 4132 SW 102nd CourtCatalino Rioseco Chambrot, 35, 10351 SW 56th St.Angel Cruz, 29, 2421 SW 129th Ave.Fisherman Carmelo Fernandez, 28, 5472 SW 127th Ct. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. 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. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. Crime Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. The illegal 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. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. #BorderPatrol agents have responded to multiple drug washups & seized approx. 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. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. 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. 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. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Miami, FL 33141 Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Contact Us 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. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. By Citizen Staff. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. 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. independent local journalism in Miami. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. 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. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? 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. 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. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. 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. Authorities said it the mostdefendants in a single Keys bust and among the most everin any Florida bust. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. 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. font-size:11.0pt; 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. 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.

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