The operation, part of joint efforts involving five separate Coast Guard cutter crews, concluded with one vessel, the Bertholf, off-loading the entire amount seized at the marine terminal in San Diego on Wednesday. That amount of cocaine is reportedly worth an estimated $367 million. The bust, containing Mexican Cartel produced fentanyl, enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the state of Florida 11 times over. The congresswoman said. Smuggling Case, Italian Court Rules Hemp Flowers, Leaves are Not Narcotics, University of Arizona Students Launch Expungement Clinic, Virginia Adult-Use Cannabis Plans Halted Due to Failed Bills. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. The 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. Two other Coast Guard vessels, the Tahoma and the Midgett, were responsible for seizing over 9,000 pounds of cocaine earlier that month. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS CARTELS ONLY CARE ABOUT PROF. A traffic stop involving James Forbes Jr. happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night while riding a bike on Palm Avenue in Bunnell.The situation changed dramatically as Forbes tried to run away after a deputy found a suspicious package during a pat down.Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl.We have seen our seizures in Flagler County is up over 500 percent so far this year compared to all of last year, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. A primary goal of legalizing cannabis is transitioning customers from the illegal to the legal market, and in Canada, it seems to be working. In September, a submarine located in the Pacific Ocean was found with over 12,000 pounds of cocaine onboard, officials said. All of the confiscated cocaine and marijuana came from drug busts off the Pacific Coast of the United States and countries in Central America. On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel.Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more . THE SITUATION CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AS FORBES TRIED TO RUN AWAY AFTER A DEPUTY FOUND A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE DURING A PAT DOWN. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing, Staly said.Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. The illegal narcotics worth more than $1.4 billion was "the largest offload in Coast Guard history," according to a press release. Authorities from other countries also spoke to the U.S. media about the busts. The bust, containing Mexican Cartel produced fentanyl, enough to kill "every man, woman, and child in the state of Florida 11 times over." The congresswoman said. On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. All Rights Reserved. In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. Sheriff Marceno said the operation is far from over. >> WE HAVE SEEN OUR SEIZURES IN FLAGLER COUNTY IS UP OVER 500% SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO ALL OF LAST YEAR. "Unfortunately, shipping and logistics companies are from time to time affected by trafficking problems. The communities of Leon and Gadsden counties are safer with the arrests of these individuals., More drug rings:Cocaine, heroin, pot, $30K seized; at least six arrested as FDLE breaks up alleged drug ring, More:Federal prisons employee indicted in large-scale dog-fighting ring, More:Eight more charged in Panhandle drug ring. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. Some will face prosecution at the circuit level while some are likely to face statewide prosecutors. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The Coast Guard reported that it will do so at Port Everglades. Sheriff Marceno said during the investigation they seized57 grams of cocaine, 620 grams of methamphetamine, 497 grams of fentanyl, eight guns, and more than $300,000. Melonie Holt "We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Krug. The drugs had a value of more than $165 million. >> 24 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED, BUT ONE GANG MEMBER REMAINS AT LARGE, 39-YEAR-OLD EFREN BERUMEN FROM KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA. In January, Sheriff Michelle Cook, along with her leadership team,. By Catie Beck and Michael Kosnar. Valspar Final Round Championship Passes, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Additionally, two rifles were found, both belonging to Hernandez. Cammack also said that the Biden administration is prioritizing illegals over veterans. This statement is in response to the administrations decision to send VA doctors to the border to treat undocumented immigrants despite be backlogged in the homeland. Video released by the U.S. Coast Guard shows crew members from the Bertholf intercepting a "low-profile go-fast vessel" while on patrol in November. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway announced Friday the arrests of nearly two dozen people involved in distributing large amounts of drugs in the. ', Team DeSantis Praises 'Biden's Border Crisis' Bill, MSNBC's Joy Reid: DeSantis wants 'Total Government Control'. Phone: (954) 368-9931 Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Operation curbside crackdown resulted in a total of 50 arrests, with more pending, said Sheriff Carmine Marceno. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. We will never know the lives saved through this investigation.. IE 11 is not supported. The drugs were seized "during multiple interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. He allegedly had multiple "stash houses" in town that were raided by police who discovered drugs, cash and guns. This is lawful pressure and resistance that makes our crime rate go down and the quality of life go up, said Sheriff Marceno. The arrest affidavit says that the drugs were found upon search of the vessel in seven separate shipping containers, as we have reported. The troubling trend began around 2012, before cocaine-related deaths jumped 34 percent from 2016 to 2017, the CDC said. Email: Diversenewmedia@gmail.com. Back in July 2019, law enforcement officials caught up with Victor Manuel Hernandez of Wimauma, Florida, when a "confidential source" spoke with Hernandez and ordered a kilogram of meth, according to court documents obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office of Florida's Middle District. The U.S. Coast Guard has seized over 18,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $312 million in a series of drug busts in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. >> IT IS ENOUGH TO KILL 66 OUT OF THE 67 COUNTIES POPULATION HERE IN FLORIDA. He continued: The James crew conducted counter-drug operations with the cooperative efforts with regional partner nations, like Colombia, Costa Rica and alongside the agencies involved in Operation Martillo to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. South Florida police made a huge drug bust on Friday night. U.S. Coast Guard boarding team members climb aboard a suspected smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific in September 2019. According to the agency, the busts were the result of efforts from several Coast Guard vessels and crews, along with law enforcement agencies from several other countries. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In July, authorities in Southern California seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at the time. Florida Attorney. Officials with the Coast Guard say they offloaded a massive amount of seized drugs, totaling over $1 billion, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The DEA, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota Police Department and Bradenton Police Department investigated this case. Thank you for your interest in receiving the The Floridian newsletter. Investigators believe the ship was loaded with drugs after it left its last port of call in the Bahamas. The illegal narcotics worth. 2023 The Floridian. Plans are underway to open a cannabis dispensary and consumption lounge in Atlantic City, only steps from the famed Boardwalk. Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Tony Wilson, Jr. (31, LeHigh Acres) to life in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine), heroin, and fentanyl; distribution of fentanyl; and possessing multiple firearms as a convicted felon. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford held a news conference about a large drug bust. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. Through our partnership with Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies in Florida and Georgia, our detectives took a huge amount of meth off the street and shut down an active drug trafficker operating out of a federal prison." The United States Coast Guard just announced the conclusion of what appears to be a large drug bust in the Pacific Ocean. "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. A RECENT REPORT SAYS WITHOUT URGENT INTERVENTION, 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AND CANADA WILL DIE FROM OPIOID OVERDOSES BY THE END OF THE DECADE. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. He said much of the violent activity connected to the drug ring happened in the rural county west of Tallahassee. Contact him at peter.martinez@cbsnews.com. #BREAKING @USCG Cutter James' crew offloaded approximately 59,700lbs of cocaine and 1,430lbs of marijuana worth more than $1.4 billion, Thurs., @PortEverglades, the largest offload in #CoastGuard history.#Partnerships @Southcom @RoyalCanNavy Read more: https://t.co/8QaTcIUtv2 pic.twitter.com/O5SZWVQOOQ. A collaborative of law enforcement officials announced the arrests after nearly a year of work, which allegedlybrought down major players and street level dealers who operated in Leon and Gadsden counties but had connections to California, Georgia and Texas. SO THE CARTELS IN MEXICO ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT MARKETING. HAPPENED JUST BEFORE NINE TUESDAY NIGHT WHILE HE WAS RIDING A BIKE ON PALM AVENUE IN BUNNELL. Tiasaga allegedly told agents that it was Durasevic who operated the crane that brought on the bales of the cocaine after the MSC Gayane was approached by six separate boats during the night while the ship was sailing between Panama and Coronel. The crisis ends when Republicans take back the House and the Senate and we secure this border.. Deputies said this bust was part of a year-long. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. WESH 2S GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN JOINS US IN THE STUDIO WITH MORE ON THIS OPIOID CRISIS. Federal agents seize over 17 tons of cocaine in Philadelphia. The Coast Guard says it has confiscated 19 tons of narcotics, including nearly 28,000 pounds of cocaine and about 11,000 pounds of marijuana. OAKLAND In what federal prosecutors are calling the biggest fentanyl bust in Bay Area history, more than 40 pounds of the deadly drug were seized from two suspected distribution houses in. Abreustweetsaid "the sale of narcotics will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.". More to come. As agents approached Hernandez at the complex, he tried to flee the scene but was placed in custody. They were stationed at a home off Palm Creek Drive. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. Coast Guard District 7. In September, a submarine located in the Pacific Ocean was found with over 12,000 pounds of cocaine onboard, officials said. He is a former News and Homepage Editor who has covered everything from breaking news to Sunday night award shows. Officials with the Coast Guard say they offloaded a massive amount of seized drugs, totaling over $1 billion, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. 25 2023. JUICE Florida Politics' Juicy Read 2.28.2023 Florida's War on Drugs ContinuesFentanylFrost, Scott, Wasserman SchultzMuch More Salazar, Gimenez Condemn DHS for Facility Fiasco, Cammack, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Prevent Criminals Profiting Off Border Crisis, Cammack Reiterates Republicans Won't be Cutting Social Security, Medicare, Strategic Production Act Passes Along Party Lines. Massive drug bust at sea worth $1.06 billion recovered in Florida Ishshah Padilla 2/18/2022 The Coast Guard conducted a drug bust that led them to 54,500 pounds of cocaine and 15,800. TAMPA, Fla. A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after conspiring to distribute hundreds of grams of substances containing methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. In a tweet posted Saturday, City of Miami Police Cmdr. Most of these suspects are gang members and contributed to violent crimes, Perez said. The illicit haul was found aboard a cargo ship, the MSC Gayane, which had traveled from Chile, Panama and the Bahamas, according to NBC Philadelphia. The entire 18,000 pounds of drugs seized were off-loaded in San Diego Wednesday. / CBS News. Law enforcement agents said they also found more than $400,000 in cash. Peter joined CBS News Digital in February 2017. LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Six people were arrested in a massive drug bust at an auto body shop in Lee County. Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. 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 document says Durasevic and approximately four other individuals, some wearing ski masks, assisted in pushing the nets containing blue and black bags of cocaine into the hold and loaded them into containers. The shipping company MSC thanked federal authorities for making the bust. NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) announced operation 'curbside crackdown' lead to 50 arrests in a massive narcotics and gun bust at a North Fort Myers. Police in South Florida made a huge drug bust on Friday night. NOW IS THE TIME TO TALK TO YOUR LOVED ONES, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. He allegedly told the feds that Tiasaga was one of the crew members who helped him load the cocaine. They said the drug bust netted approximately 16.5 tons of the narcotic from a cargo ship docked at the Packer Marine Terminal. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his house and agents found 31 kilograms of meth, 756 grams of cocaine and about 523 grams of heroin. Aug. 30, 2019, 4:32 PM PDT. >> YOU GOT NO LIGHTS ON AND YOURE BIKING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, MAN. With the end of Title 42 on the horizon, the efforts to bring attention to the border by Republicans has never been more apparent. U.S. Coast Guard boarding team members climb aboard a suspected smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific in September 2019. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. Subscribe to the newsletter everyone in Florida is reading. This is just the latest in a series of large drug busts by the Coast Guard. In particular, several other countries were involved in the effort. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. To subscribe, please submit your email address below. Specifically, cocaine and marijuana. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. The street value of all the seized cocaine could be as high as $1 billion, according to federal prosecutors in Philadelphia. The Lee County Sheriff's Office held a news conference on the raid that happened at an . 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