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. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. 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. 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. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. 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. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. Pacheco does not have a concealed carry permit for the weapon, according to the report. Miami's independent source of and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. 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 additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. 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. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. 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. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? 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. "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. 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. 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. 29. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. 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. The investigation started a month ago. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. He didnt. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). 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. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. 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. 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. 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. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. table.MsoNormalTable The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. Join the New Times community and help support We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. 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. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. 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. 0 Oct 23, 2020. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. 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. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. By Citizen Staff. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. 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. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. On March 21. 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. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. It was a routine bust.. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. 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 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. Crime 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. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 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. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. 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. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. 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. #BorderPatrol agents have responded to multiple drug washups & seized approx. 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. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. She might be cute. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. ~Editor. 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. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. Tipsters may remain anonymous. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. 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. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. WebThe U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that it was offloading a record-shattering amount of cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 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 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. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. 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. 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. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. 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. 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 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. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. 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. mso-para-margin-left:0in; Miami, FL 33141 One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? #breakingnews #florida. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. WebNo. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. 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. mso-para-margin-top:0in; 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. 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. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. 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. 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. All rights reserved. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. 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. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. 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. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. 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. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 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. false Traffic stop results in drug bust. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! Authorities said it the mostdefendants in a single Keys bust and among the most everin any Florida bust. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. 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 He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. X-NONE I was just a hanger-on, not a player. The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. 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. mso-style-priority:99; K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard.