A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 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. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; line-height:115%; She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Miami's independent source of 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. 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. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. #breakingnews #florida. A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. 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. 27 lbs of marijuana & 3 lbs of cocaine. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Reed Bryan Bell, 55, of Islamorada, was also arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and Markus Dyer, 31, of Big Pine Key, was arrested on charges of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. A very special thanks to Major Monty Seals who ran theoperation. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. X-NONE Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. 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. 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. Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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. - 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. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. 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. WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. 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. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. In those days the cowboys had faster boats and knew the waters better than the Marine Patrol (except for Officer Mark Walker, the best Marine Patrol Officer anyone has ever seen) so most times they could outrun the law. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. 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. An official confided that at least a half dozen hand guns were taken from the suspects. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. 0 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. 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. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. All three were arrested and taken to jail. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. 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. 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. By Citizen Staff. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. 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. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County 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. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 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. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. 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 29. 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. WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. 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. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. 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. WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables resident still refuses to sell decades-old home surrounded by massive development, Broward County pastor faces several fraud, grand theft charges after defrauding church, Gunman dead after hours-long SWAT standoff at SW Miami-Dade apartment complex, Police: Man fatally shot 3-year-old son, himself inside Coconut Grove condo, Police arrest student who made false bomb threat at Dillard High School; classes resume. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. 1401 79th Street Causeway 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. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. Several weapons were also found at the scene. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines and possession of a controlled substance. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. 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 it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. 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. mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 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. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. 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. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. 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. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? K9 Coral assisted in the arrest of a Key West woman who faces drug trafficking and possession charges. font-size:11.0pt; The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp 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. The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. 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. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. On Friday afternoon, Alvarez-Bermudez remained jailed without bond at the Stock Island Detention Center. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. 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. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. Oct 23, 2020. Pacheco does not have a concealed carry permit for the weapon, according to the report. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me. 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. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. Huff is being held on $2.5 million bond, while both Walker and Wilborn are being held on just over $900,000 bond. false 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. 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. 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. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. Traffic stop results in drug bust. 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. 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. 2 Key West, FL 33040 (305) 735-4587 Se Habla Espaol. 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. Jul 17, 2021. I hoped I could talk my way out of there. Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar confirmed that agents have responded to numerous drug wash-ups since the start of the month, seizing about 27 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of cocaine. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. A 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. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. On March 21. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. independent local journalism in Miami. Border Patrol officials ask the public to report any suspicious activity by calling their toll free number 1-877-772-8146. The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. They successfully evacuated the building, removed and destroyed the device. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. "Arrest warrants were issued for each of the 100 suspects who have been identified throughout the course of the investigation as sources or distributors of these deadly drugs," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. 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. 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. 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. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. 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. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . 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 two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. The senior citizen also had a 9mm handgun, 189 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale, police said. On foot and in boats, law officers surprised the smugglers, shutting off their escape by land and sea. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. 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. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. Dozens of them were taken into custody and bused to prison, including the six alleged ringleaders. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. 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. WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. 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. 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. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. All rights reserved. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. 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. 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. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. 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. 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. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. mso-para-margin-top:0in; He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. 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. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. mso-style-noshow:yes; Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. 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.
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