Click to see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. There are at least 13 U.S. cities that are used as distribution hubs by the Mexican drug cartels. In total, deputies seized a half kilogram of cocaine, under 20 grams of marijuana, a gun that had been reported stolen, approximately $6,900 in cash, the 20 pounds of methamphetamine and 37 grams of fentanyl. That led authorities to a house in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they seized $2 million worth of heroin as well as methamphetamines, a stockpile of cash, and an AK-47. The county is on track to nearly double that number in 2022, with 1,969 reported overdoses as of Dec. 12, according to a county EMS dashboard. The reason Simmons said the operation was named "Operation Blue Christmas" is because of the blue pills that are laced with unknown amounts of fentanyl, leading to many overdoses in the community. A cocaine/heroin/fentanyl mixture weighed in at 189.5 grams. The ECSO began investigating Vo four months ago. Drug trafficking is probably the most lucrative illegal money maker, which the richest drug dealers of all time can attest to. They arrested Marcus Blankenship and Steven Brown and there were three other people inside at the time. A month of surveillance and a coordinated law enforcement effort produced one of the biggest drug busts weve ever seen. That's enough to conceivably kill every person in Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County and Walton County. Pompano Beach, FL 33062 (954) 945-7520. October 20th, 2020 9:08 pm, Don Rojo on A major source of the cocaine supply into Pensacola and Northwest Florida has been "knocked out", according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. A brother-sister duo, a quiet suburb, and a false attic wall hiding $24 million in cash made trafficking marijuana. Pensacola News Journal 0:03 1:21 The Escambia County Sheriff's Office made a major drug bust earlier this month that resulted in the seizure of a deadly amount of fentanyl and 20 pounds of. Then, authorities discovered how the suspect got all those drugs via a 600-foot tunnel that crossed the border to Mexico. Nahn Thanh Vo, 38, was arrested Aug. 19. Posted: Jun 10, 2021 / 04:59 PM EDT. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. . DEA agents say addicts who can no longer afford . Florida Gov. Law enforcement officials said today that they had arrested 61 members of a cocaine ring that illegally imported and distributed more than 2,400 kilograms of the drug a year, with a street value of more than $720 million. Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, How to see Venus, Jupiter nighttime kiss, Biden mocks Rep. 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Mr. Dumont said the arrests had resulted in the dismantling of an international organization that had operated in New Jersey since 1979 and distributed cocaine in New Jersey, New York and other states. Between Dec. 9 and Dec. 15 the ECSO narcotics unit and Pensacola Police Department SWAT team seized 1,600 grams of fentanyl, which the sheriff said is enough to kill 800,000 people, from five. Mexican cartels aren't prevalent in New York City probably because smaller Colombian drug operations still supply large quantities of cocaine and heroin into New York City. 61 ARE ARRESTED IN COCAINE RAID IN THREE STATES, https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/13/nyregion/61-are-arrested-in-cocaine-raid-in-three-states.html. Florida drug bust seized enough fentanyl to 'kill everyone within 18 counties' by: Dylan Abad. Authorities saymore charges are pending and will be added to Smith'scourt records at the completion of the ECSO'sfull investigation into the drugs that were allegedly found in Smith's possession. "There has also been evidence of the utilization of cryptocurrencies by Mexican TCOs as a means by which to transfer their wealth internationally" said the DEA. The illegal narcotics worth. Between Dec. 9 and Dec. 15 the ECSO narcotics unit and Pensacola Police Department SWAT team seized 1,600 grams of fentanyl, which the sheriff said is enough to kill 800,000 people, from five. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. The total lot size is .54 acres (2,200m2). 5 on the list to read about the U.S. Coast Guards big bust in 2007. Fentanyl overdose deaths have surged in the Florida Panhandle. Channel 3's Rebekah Castor is live with the. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists fentanyl as being up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The sheriff's office said on Wednesday the. "To put that in perspective, just a couple of milligrams of fentanyl are considered fatal," Simmons said. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Dallas as a major hub. We're committed to stopping the ones who are selling it and opening up their homes for this type of dangerous behavior.". August 26th, 2021 8:16 pm, Joshua jenkins on More on the fentanyl crisis: Fentanyl overdose deaths have surged in the Florida Panhandle. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. "I can tell you, marijuana will be a. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Business owner guilty on all counts." Pensacola News Journal, February 12, 2008. We bet you won't be able to guess the #1 U.S. city that is crowded by these violent Mexican drug cartels. Along with serving five warrants, here are the sheriff's "totals for the week" in seizures from the five homes: "I will tell you this: We are committed to stopping these people who are ruining our neighborhoods," Simmons said. April 15, 2022 Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) went on Fox News Business on Friday to share with the public that there was a huge drug bust in her district. This all happened less than 400 feet from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church which is an additional charge because it was within 1,000 feet. The Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Jason R. Coody, who joined Simmons at the Thursday news conference, said Vo had been charged with one federal count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WEAR) Three men are behind bars after a month long drug investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit. Ten handguns, including one equipped with a silencer, were confiscated by the authorities. The tunnel police found in California was 600 yards long, had lights and a working elevator, and contained 32 tons of marijuana worth roughly $65 million. They estimated the drugs to be worth at least $870,000 on the street. At the time of his apprehension, authorities seized a treasure trove of illicit substances and ill-gotten gains that included the following: The seizure of his assets was the largest asset seizure in Escambia County history. Melonie Holt Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto shop. It is the 4th most powerful Mexican drug cartel operating in the United States. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge haul of narcotics near a . But Coody and Simmons added that they both anticipate that Vo could face additional charges at the official conclusion of an investigation. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Laredo as a major hub. "This is a major drug dealer who distributes to people throughout the county," Simmons said. There are at least 13 U.S. cities that are used as distribution hubs by the Mexican drug cartels. This isnt a comprehensive list of the biggest drug busts, but it gives you an idea of how much money is at stake. From Wall Street to the underworld, if theres one thing weve learned its that crime pays and pays big. According to the DEA, these six Mexican drug cartels generate tens of billions of dollars every year and employ a multitude of financial transactions and arrangements to launder and smuggle their earnings into Mexico. When the main players had their cases go to trial, the warehouse owner received a life sentence, according to the Los Angeles Times. The reason Simmons said the operation was named "Operation Blue Christmas" is because of the blue pills that are laced with unknown amounts of fentanyl, leading to many overdoses in the community. The sheriff also wanted this investigation to serve as "a Christmas gift" for the citizens of Escambia by ridding the streets of lethal drugs and weapons. Florida's crackdown on pill mills has tightened the supply. August 27th, 2021 9:49 pm, Dante LaBeaux on Updated: Jun 10, 2021 / 05:06 PM EDT. August 26th, 2021 6:51 pm, A.W.Thompson on They also found $4,557 in cash inside the house. All the smaller busts weve discussed so far happened in the 21st century, and were guessing its because the kingpins and cartels got tired of all the mammoth seizures late in the 20th century. "We're committed to stopping the ones who are bringing this stuff in. Pensacola News Journal, April 29, 2006. They clearly don't care about violating the employment discrimination laws. Next: Another 2018 raid is among the biggest drug busts ever. Acting on a tip, authorities searched a house and discovered nearly 18,000 pounds of wrapped cocaine estimated to be worth $1 billion. "That means we had enough lethal fentanyl to kill 800,000 people. Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. Suspect in huge '78 pot bust captured .Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Tom O'Brien confirmed yesterday that the 1978 pot seizure was the largest ever made by the agency's Seattle office. Federal agents caught two men with 86 pounds of heroin, which was worth roughly $6 million at the time. 360 WEST RUBY STREET | TAVARES, FLORIDA 32778 | 352. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Rep. Michelle Salzman Calls For Resignation Of School Superintendent Tim Smith, Two Women Charged With Working Together On Multiple Retail Thefts, Catholic Church Plans New Community Center On Highway 29 In Cantonment, ECSO Investigating Reported Abduction Of Teen Girl In Bratt; She Was Found Unharmed, Located: Woman Wanted For Questioning In Deadly Escambia Pit Bull Attack, 11 Arrested In Internet Child Predator Sting, Atmore Man Charged With Reckless Murder Of His 2-Year Old Child, Cantonment Man Charged With Assault With A Deadly Weapon, All Star High School Soccer Game Is Wednesday Night, Tall Job: Crews Paint Walnut Hill Water Tower, 2,156 pounds of the highest grade marijuana, citizen II on Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons held a press conference Friday afternoon regarding the department's recent multi-home drug bust he dubbed "Operation Blue Christmas.". The biggest raids happened in the 20th century, but check out No. A brother-sister duo, a quiet suburb, and a false attic wall hiding $24 million in cash made trafficking. October 21st, 2020 11:32 am, Lance on August 27th, 2021 5:44 pm, Money bags on The Sandwich Shop was not in operation prior to the hurricane. One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. They range from drug . Sylmar is something of a sleepy town northwest of Los Angeles, but its the site of what might be the biggest drug bust ever. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. Loved one is suffering behavior. ``, deaths increased 48 % put... Seized enough fentanyl to & # x27 ; s Rebekah Castor is live with the largest drug bust to hit. Tightened the supply effort produced one of the biggest drug busts ever with 86 pounds of,... Was worth roughly $ 6 million at the time 63 % of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in,! 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