Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) - Sheriff Grady Judd says their most recent drug bust resulted in the POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) The Polk County Sheriffs Office said its undercover detectives have been using dating apps to track down a number of people suspected of buying and selling drugs in the area. If you look at our org chart there, youll notice that theres kind of three distinct groups of people, he said. Undercover agents arranged a controlled delivery of the pills to Amber Cayson, 37, at 3237 Xerxes Ave. in Winter Haven, the PCSO said. We arrested the people. The Sheriff's Office said Ornelas-Loza and Ornelas-Martinez are related, though their exact relationship wasn't known. May 3, 2021 / 12:45 PM Methamphetamine destroys lives, degrades communities, and ruins families. "'We got ya gold, we put ya tail in the county jail.' It also uncovered an illegal cockfighting ring run by Isidoro Palacios, 59, who was arrested, according to the sheriff's office. Overall, the investigation seized 268 pounds of meth as well as 6.8 ounces of fentanyl and 48 firearms. Crossings have increased in recent months, and conservative politicians blame the immigration policies of President Joe Biden. Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified the location of the suspects home base. He tried to flee, but was apprehended. Inside his backpack, they found 75 grams of fentanyl powder, 392 grams of confirmed fentanyl pills (nearly one pound), 175 grams of suspected fentanyl pills, one kilogram of methamphetamine, 75 grams of powder cocaine and 20 grams of crack cocaine. The liquid methoriginated in Mexico and was smuggled across the border to Palacios, Judd said. When undercover detectives asked about the color, McClain allegedly told them it was dyed blue "in recognition of the Democratic Party.". Judd used the news conference to make political statements. Apt #202 in Lake Wales, where they found another pound of cocaine, marijuana, $13,000 cash, and a firearm, they said. You think LAX has got a drug smuggling problem at the airport?". Were not dealing with people that are low level and nonviolent people, he said. The operation began Jan. 14, when federal agents intercepted a shipment of generic Xanax in New York, Judd said. ", Polk County Sheriff's Office displays drugs, firearms seized during county's largest wiretap operation, RELATED: Woman cut off boyfriend's penis after he tried to rape 14-year-old daughter, reports say. The same day, detectives conducted a traffic stop and arrested Samuel on his two active warrants in Florida. ", Domestic violence suspect:Man killed by Lake Wales police after fatally shooting K-9, 'He's dead now':Winter Haven man told 911 dispatcher he shot his father, PCSO says, Officer shot:Haines City Police officer recovering after beingshot during a traffic stop Sunday. During the investigation, authorities also seized: Sheriff's officials said the total street value of the drugs confiscated is over $12.8 million. Now shes an arrested girl," Judd said. HSI agents and local Georgia law enforcement officers served search warrants at 8 locations in Georgia, arrested 3, and seized 1,416 pounds of crystalized and liquid methamphetamine. The sheriff detailed one occasion where the suspects smuggled six suitcases full of drugs on a flight from LAX to Orlando. The investigation, called "Operation No Snow," focused on the illegal sale of cocaine and meth, according to the Polk County Meers' arrest led investigators to the location of 3 methamphetamine conversion labs in Georgia. Large Drug Bust Made During Traffic Stop in Polk County Mason was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. To catch you up to speed, Judd says we'll have to start in January when an envelope shipped from Canada containing 2,544 Xanax pills was intercepted. )], Judd said the investigation began in September 2020 when the sheriffs office received information a family in Winter Haven, identified as the Jefferson family, was smuggling large amounts of drugs into Florida from Mexico through California and then to the streets of Central Florida.. "Because he made phone calls, and we have videos from thestore of people running up with masks on going into the trunk and taking items out of the trunk before law enforcement arrived." They were willing to send it here, he said. Altogether, the suspects have 645 previous charges against them, including 314 prior felonies. He dismissed as crap any suggestion that there isnt a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. They didnt so much as throw a pair of underwear in the suitcase to act like they were hiding the drugs. Snitch List: Snitches, Rats, and Informants - Cop Blaster: Police drug HSI agents and South Fulton County Police Department arrested Palacios and seized 77 pounds of methamphetamine, a stolen vehicle, and a stolen shotgun. His criminal history includes 2 arrests in Georgia with charges of trafficking in cocaine, illegal drug possession, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and driving without a valid license. Over two dozen were arrested following an undercover drug sting by the Polk County Sheriffs Office. bust - The Polk County Sheriff's Office says their latest drug bust resulted in the largest seizure of fentanyl in the history of the agency. We have information that she was immediately delivering and couriering meth for the Juarez cartel just as soon as she got out of prison, the sheriff said. March 22, 2023. They use violence as a means to enforce their trafficking business. Violations may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or Conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine (F1) Sheriff's officials said they arrested his partner, Vicente Carranza-Basanta, the same day. 1 federal inmate charged "He was the one who really put together the trips from LAX to Florida," Judd said. While searching one of the lab locations, federal and local officers discovered and dismantled an illegal cock-fighting ring headed by Isidoro Palacios, 59, of College Park, Georgia, the PCSO said. Example video title will go here for this video. Florida bust: 85 arrested, $12.8M in drugs seized.