; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. 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. 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. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? 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. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. mso-para-margin-right:0in; #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. 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. 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. 6 to Know: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina, Search - NBC 6 South Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. Join the New Times community and help support 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. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Traffic stop results in drug bust. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. font-size:11.0pt; 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. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. 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. From the Miami HeraldNovember 14, 1980By Michael Capuzzo and Robert Rivas Herald Staff Writers. On March 21. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! The suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. 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. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} 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. Record drug bust: $1.4 billion worth of cocaine and marijuana Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. Among those arrested at a marijuana off-loading site on Big Pine Key were several familiar Key West names including Nelson Jamardo, better known as Ping Ping; Francisco Hernandez, 58, a former fireman for the Navy and now a watch engineer at the City Electric System; Antonio Tony Hernandez, 50, owner of David Electric; Manuel Sanchez, 57, salesman at Sears; and Domingo Galvan, 44, a registered nurse employed at DePoo Memorial Doctors Hospital. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. Fentanyl bust: Enough drugs seized to kill half of Florida, Attorney mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. - 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. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. #breakingnews #florida. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. WebNo. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. Book captures Keys' drug-running heyday 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. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. 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. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . 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. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. 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. drug bust ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. All three were arrested and taken to jail. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. 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. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs found along coast of Florida Keys 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. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. 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. man arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine in Florida Keys If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Normal Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. independent local journalism in Miami. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. line-height:115%; Ruff arrest: K9 busts alleged drug trafficker in Florida Keys - WPLG Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. Deputies found the Taurus inside a fanny pack located in the back seat. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. Over 100 arrested in massive Florida drug bust after months On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mastermind behind largest meth seizure in Polk history was 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. Six Arrested in Keys Drug Bust Marathon couple charged with possession in drug bust 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. mso-para-margin-left:0in; Miami's independent source of 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. 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. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. 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. 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. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. 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. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. 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. Florida Keys traffic stop turns into guns and drugs bust | Miami Herald #BorderPatrol agents have responded to multiple drug washups & seized approx. 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. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. "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. Crime X-NONE Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. "It is enough to kill 66 out of the 67 counties' population here in Florida," Moody said at the Tampa Bay Regional Operational Center alongside Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents. The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. 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. 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. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. 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. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. tons of seized cocaine, marijuana worth over Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 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. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. 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 Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. Pacheco does not have a concealed carry permit for the weapon, according to the report. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; drug bust mso-para-margin-top:0in; 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. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; The public may view the reports by going to WSVN.com and clicking on "FCC Public File", or by visiting the FCC's website at FCC.org. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. Several weapons were also found at the scene. Florida Keys Drug Arrests | Robertson & Hunter, LLP If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Harry, he replied. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. 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. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Teen in Vicious Attack on Florida Teacher's Aide to Be Charged as Adult, Given $1M Bond, Ex-UM Football Player Accused of Killing Teammate Granted $850K Bond. mso-style-noshow:yes; 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. Contact Us 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. 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. Big Pine 29 Bust 1980 BigPineKey.com 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. WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Traffic stop results in drug bust | Mile Markers | keysnews.com Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. 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. 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. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. 1401 79th Street Causeway mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; He said then that he had gone to get his brother Sergio, 40. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. 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. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. Thompson said the 4 a.m. drug bust culminated a four week investigation involving members of the Marathon sheriffs sub-station, U.S. Customs and the Marine Patrol. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. The only things of note toever happen here was the Spanish landing in the 1600s, the burningdown of the Big Pine Inn in the 1970 and the Big Pine29 Bust in 1980. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. 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. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; The senior citizen also had a 9mm handgun, 189 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale, police said. A 71-year-old Keys drug dealer was busted, police said - Miami 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.