Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. On March 21. false Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. 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. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. Freeman said he was eager to gain title to the smuggling vehicles for his department. mso-para-margin-right:0in; Ramsey also said that receiving information from law abiding citizens is important, especially in cases like this. The investigation started a month ago. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. false I hoped I could talk my way out of there. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. 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. 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. The illegal Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. 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. 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. 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. 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 This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 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. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. 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. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. 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. 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. 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. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. Fifteen agents from three agencies seized 25,000 poundsof marijuana in the pre-dawn bust on Big Pine Key. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. ~Editor. All rights reserved. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard offloaded more than $500 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in South Florida on Monday. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. Miami's independent source of Plumber Fermin Tapia, 41, of 1701 Jamaica Dr.Vicente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.Fisherman Enrique Blasco, 19, 1504 Laird St.Two Friends Fish Co. fishermen Jose Monzon Garcia, 44,Key West Villas No. Francisco Hernandez, 58, an engineer for the Key West City Electric System and a former civilian fire fighter at the Key West Naval Air Station. {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-style-parent:""; The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. 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. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. Officers also found more than $3,000 in cash. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Now is the time to talk to your loved ones, especially children. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered 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. #breakingnews #florida. There also were grandfathers, a plumber, a power companyengineer, a crewman from the first vessel to arrive inKey West in the Cuban boatlift last March, and thebrother he brought back from Cuba. There might have been something else,but it escapes me. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton brought 26,250 pounds of cocaine and 3,700 pounds of marijuana to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale -- the largest drug interdiction in the ship's history. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. 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. Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. He was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. 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. EN-US The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. 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. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? 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. independent local journalism in Miami. 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. mso-para-margin-left:0in; "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. "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. He didnt. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. By Citizen Staff. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust.