Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. Nothing ever happens on Big Pine Key and weusually like it that way. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. X-NONE Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. /* Style Definitions */ At that point the two came face to face and the alleged smuggler, cried, Al, mi madre, the police.. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Officials say they havent been able to destroy it because of a paperwork backlog. 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. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. They captured 29 smugglers, and only missedtwo who swam away. Over the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Teen in Vicious Attack on Florida Teacher's Aide to Be Charged as Adult, Given $1M Bond, Ex-UM Football Player Accused of Killing Teammate Granted $850K Bond. 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. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. 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. 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. WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. 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. WebThe Border Patrol said 73 pounds of cocaine and 62 pounds of marijuana were found between two days. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. 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. They were too many of them and they were too obvious. The long process known as coking in police language continued into the evening hours Saturday at the Monroe County Sheriffs Department 30 men rounded up during a pre-dawn marijuana bust were being questioned by officials. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. The investigation started a month ago. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. Deputies checked the car and found 38 more marijuana vaping products, a loaded Taurus .40 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson SD40 VE handgun, five 12-gauge shotgun shells, 57 .22 magnum bullets, and one 9 mm bullet, as well as various drug equipment, including rolling papers and a marijuana grinder, according to the report. mso-para-margin-top:0in; Miami, FL 33141 mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 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. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. mso-style-parent:""; 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. 2: Drug Bust at Haulover Marina. 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. ~Editor. If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. She might be cute. Marathon Residents:Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon LodgeRafael Francisco Lopez, 42, P.O. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. Whos there, the agent was asked in Spanish. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. 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. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. 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. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. EN-US In January she also was credited with helping catch a suspected cocaine dealer. The back door of one was still painted in the companys turquoise color with the word Sears still visible. 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 suspects could face multiple charges ranging from conspiracy and trafficking to racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO). The illegal it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. mso-style-noshow:yes; 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. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. Tipsters may remain anonymous. bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. "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. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, Check Your Change! The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; 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. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. Rickie Santiago Pacheco, 23, faces charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, possessing a firearm while committing a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and interfering with the custody of a minor. This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off There were kidnappings among that crowd, but that is another story and has nothing to do with this one. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. 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. By Citizen Staff. Friday night, it became clear they were about to hit pay dirt, and officers added men to their stakeout in a posh neighborhood along a mangrove swamp just north of U.S. 1. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; RELATED: Deadly dupes: Nationwide spike in mass-overdoses, teen deaths due to fentanyl-laced drugs, DEA says. 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. Oct 23, 2020. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. 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. Authorities said it the most defendants in a single Keys bust and among the most ever in any Florida bust. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Pacheco does not have a concealed carry permit for the weapon, according to the report. Cash in the amount of more than $1,000 was seized as well. 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. mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Dyer is Howards boyfriend, according to the sheriffs office. WebFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WSVN) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug bust. 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. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. 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. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The owner of a shrimp boat that was seized off Texas last year with 33 tons of marijuana aboard. 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. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. 1401 79th Street Causeway 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. The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. 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. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. The sheriffs department already has more than 1,100 bales of pot stored in 16 vehicles under armed guards just outside Freemans office window. Based on anonymous tips, Customs, Sheriffs Department and Marine Patrol aircraft began watching the Big Pine Key area, officials said. The three alleged organizational leaders were identified as Brandon Huff, 35, and Jonathan Walker, 42, both of Cocoa, and Megan Wilborn, 31, of Merritt Island. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. He didnt. They were charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. line-height:115%; Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. "We must have strict enforcement for these dealers and treatment for those who have become addicted.. 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. 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. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. WebAt age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. The estimated value of the marijuana was listed at $2 million. 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. Theyre accused of selling crack Normal WebNo. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. "Several of the suspects arrested today were arrested previously in this investigation for drug related charges and were released after posting lowered bonds.". 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. It was a routine bust.. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. 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. mso-para-margin-right:0in; A man going out on the smugglers mother ship could make a quick $100,000. The law caught on fast and the days of the cowboys didnt last much longer. K9 Coral with drugs seized during March 15 traffic stop. 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. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. 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. The Smith and Wesson was in the center console of the car, Faison said. On March 21. 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. 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. Staly said in Flagler, the age of overdoses range from 18 to 60. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. The 17-year-old was clutching a backpack, according to the report. Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. WebA South Florida man and woman each face more than 60 years in federal prison after being charged with multiple drug dealing counts last week. Agents seized 48 pounds of fentanyl and more than 350 pounds of methamphetamines. mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. Harry, he replied. 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. The confiscated vehicles are expected to be valued in the thousands of dollars. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. #news pic.twitter.com/rUf0Etk61f. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. mso-style-priority:99; MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered along the coastline in the Florida Keys, the U.S. Border Patrol in Miami announced Thursday. 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. - 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. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. 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. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. She graduated from Indiana University. Florida authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl as part of an undercover drug trafficking bust. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Nelson Alvarez-Bermudez, of Big Coppitt Key, was jailed Thursday after the Monroe County 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 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. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. 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. Crime Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. (U.S. Border Patrol) MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered independent local journalism in Miami. #breakingnews #florida. Coast guard members work to free the entangled turtle from the bundles of drugs. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's 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. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. 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. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. They also confiscated 36 pounds of crystal meth, two kilograms of cocaine, over one kilogram of heroin, three kilograms of fentanyl, $108,000 in cash and 21 guns and ammunition - all in just three months. "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. Stock Island Residents: Fisherman Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island ApartmentsConstruction worker Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, 5 SunshineSt.Richard Lee Mungin, 37, No. That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. 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. Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. Galvan returned from Cuba aboard the Blanchie III and was the first Cuban-American to announce that Cuba had opened the harbor to the Freedom Flotilla. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. pic.twitter.com/hN3VjDEG2G, On Wednesday, a Good Samaritan discovered 68 lbs. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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. Big Pine Key Residents:Fisherman Mitchell Earl Noatch, 22, Box 790. table.MsoNormalTable An official confided that at least a half dozen hand guns were taken from the suspects. Then a Florida Keys condo leader was arrested Updated January 30, 2023 5:55 PM . WebEnough fentanyl seized to kill half of Florida; 'massive' bust linked to a Mexican drug cartel: AG By Gail Paschall-Brown, WESH , CNNWire Friday, October 14, 2022 Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. BIG PINE KEY, Fla. Just days after helping bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys, Monroe County Sheriffs Office K9 Coral is at it again. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. 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. This time she alerted deputies to drugs inside a Lexus and a BMW that were pulled over Monday afternoon on Big Pine Key. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. 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.