"On one occasion, on one airline, six suitcases with this drug were smuggled into Orlando," Judd 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. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, FL Panthers oust Bruins 4-3 in OT in Game 7, 1 killed when plane slams into LA neighborhood, St. Pete donut shop damaged after car crashes into, Texas baseball player hit by gunfire during game, White Sox stop slide with wild 12-9 win against Rays, Where you can use expired Bed Bath & Beyond coupons, Family of Pass-a-Grille drowning victims speaks out, Toddler of Bucs linebacker drowned Sunday, police, USF football player arrested for domestic violence, Womans Medicare cut off after gov. When undercover detectives asked about the color, McClain allegedly told them it was dyed blue "in recognition of the Democratic Party.". Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was on hand since the criminal activity often ventured past the county border. The investigation began on January 14, 2021, when a parcel shipped from Quebec, Canada containing approximately 2,500 Xanax pills was intercepted by investigators. 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. During their search of one of the illegal conversion labs located inCollege Park, Georgia, HSI agents and local law enforcement officers discovered and dismantled an illegal rooster fighting ring belonging to59-year-old Isidoro Palacios. He had drugs," Judd said. 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Drug Bust More on @BN9 pic.twitter.com/regN22z8G8. Cayson is charged with: "Some people still call this low-level, non-violent drugs. You can call it the Bell Gang Blues rap song.". WINTER HAVENPolk County Sheriff Grady Judd stood beside a table piled with bags of crystal methamphetamine and a pyramid of plastic buckets. This time, leading investigators to the United States Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta where 37-year-old Brian Staton, known as "Lil B" was being held. Florida officials announced the arrests on Oct. 22. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaks with reporters on Thursday, April 29. Updated: Nov 4, 2021 / 10:53 PM CDT. The Sheriff's Office said he is charged with DUI manslaughter in that incident and his criminal case is pending. Judd praised Sibley for leading the operation. Federal and local investigators took him down along with 18 alleged sub-dealers and buyers in the Lakeland area. March 22, 2023. LAKELAND (FOX 13) - The Polk county sheriff says for almost 15 years, a cocaine dealer dodged law enforcement while living the high life. The wiretap led to 14 search warrants in Auburndale, Davenport, Polk City, Lake Wales, Winter Havenand Riverview, as well as in Fresno, California. Judd added that not all of the drugs were destined for our area, but that members of the Juarez and Sinaloa drug cartels had expressed interest in setting up a central Florida hub for distribution. The primary drug trafficking broker operated from a federal prison in Georgia. Submit a Tip | DEA.gov Asked about the seizures of marijuana and the anti-anxiety pills, Judd said meth has a caustic effect and that users often ingest the other drugs to take the edge off.. She is currently in the Polk County Jail with no bond. Detectives also Approximately 2,500 Xanax pills seized (street value: approximately $25,000)TOTAL STREET VALUE: $53,854,640. He lives in Riverview, but undercover detectives purchased drugs from him in Winter Haven, officials said. Police say they seized: 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 Both men were living illegally in the United States, Judd said. We arrested the people. Also seized at the residence was 24 pounds of THC edibles, 2.4 pounds of marijuana, and a pound of methamphetamine. The Sandy Springs Police Department arrested Meers on March 30 on a warrant from the Polk Sheriffs Office. He was released from jail after posting $24,500 bond. "You think LAX has got a drug smuggling problem at the airport? He said it was the largest drug sting in Polk County history, with its main operations based in Winter Haven. The investigation was focused on a drug trafficking ring that smuggled cocaine and meth from Mexico, according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release. POLK COUNTY, Fla. A multi-agency investigation uncovered an international smuggling operation out of Winter Haven that brought drugs into Central Florida, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. News FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation James McClain, 34, of Lake Wales was arrested for: Conspiracy to sell marijuana (21 Counts) Conspiracy to sell cocaine (8 counts) Conspiracy to purchase cocaine (2 counts) Conspiracy to purchase marijuana (1count) Unlawful use of two-way communication device (1 count) Possession of marijuana over 20 grams (1count) Possession of marijuana with intent to sell (1count) Possession of drug paraphernalia (1count) Maintaining a vehicle for drugs (1count) Driving with a suspended license (1count)His criminal history includes 15 felonies and 26 misdemeanors. In an interview, Meers told detectives that Stanton, the inmate, coordinated meth deliveries and paid her $500 for every kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, she delivered, the release said. You can also watch a report by Spectrum Bay News 9's Ashonti Ford in the video above. It means that 6.8 ounces of fentanyl could have killed up to 96,000 people, Judd said. On Tuesday, detectives searched another one of his residences, 2245 5thSt.NE in Winter Haven, and found large amounts of illegal narcotics, along with scales and paraphernalia, and two firearms a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9mm handgun. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Judd said the investigation is ongoing and there were suspects the Sheriff's Office was still looking for. Polk sheriff says multi-agency effort busts Winter Haven They use violence as a means to enforce their trafficking business. Javarius Samuel, 31: Sheriff's officials said that on Aug. 5, detectives in Fresno served a search warrant on Samuel's residenceand seized 68 pounds of marijuana, 109 grams of fentanyl, 14 grams of cocaine, threefirearms, and $45,000 cash. The drugs were then transported by ground from the airport into Polk County. He is in the United States illegally. Detectives arrested Castro Solache and Mondragon on Oct. 12 and booked them in Polk County, the release said. He is currently in Fulton County Jail with a $100,000 bond. 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. In addition to the arrests, three warrants were issued, the sheriffs office said. POLK COUNTY, Fla. A multi-state, joint drug trafficking investigation, has netted a seizure of more than $50 million in drugs. OK, great. Those arrested on Polk County charges are: 37-year-old Amber Caysonwho resides at3237 Xerxes Avenue NW, Winter Haven. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced 85 people were arrested as a result of a wiretap drug bust investigation Friday morning. 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). Two 18-year-olds were also arrested at the home for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, deputies said. "This is the single largest seizure of drugs and arrests made in the history of Polk County during an undercover wiretap investigation. On April 20, detectives conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 27 in Davenport as Stackhouse was traveling from Orlando. But Meers visited a psychic who warned her that it wasnt a good time to travel to Florida, Judd said. Authorities identified 55-year-old Lisa Radina as a dealer. Illegal drugs destroy lives and families, and generate theft and violence in our community, and drug traffickers are profiting from the destruction. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shows one of the suitcases filled with drugs that was checked as luggage on a flight from LAX to Orlando. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd told media on Friday that the investigation, which started in September 2020, resulted in the arrests of85 suspects who are now facing a total of 355 felony chargesand 93 misdemeanors. The mastermind of the drug-trafficking network ran it from inside the United States Penitentiary Atlanta, where he is an inmate, he said. Snitch List: Snitches, Rats, and Informants - Cop Blaster: Police According to a release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the drug trafficking organization also has ties with the Mexican drug cartel. Example video title will go here for this video. International drug trafficking ring busted in Polk County Ken Suarez reports. Lewis, 41, was arrested for armed trafficking in fentanyl, armed trafficking in cocaine, armed trafficking in methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, sale of fentanyl, possession of weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, maintaining residence for drug trafficking, maintaining residence for drug sales, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.