"Consistent with previous years, the Sinaloa Cartel maintains the widest national influence, with its most dominant positions along the West Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Northeast. The sheriff added that further arrests of more peoplein connection toVos operations also could occur pending the investigation's completion. Escambia County EMS crews responded to 1,095 overdose calls in 2021. 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. $500 million Pacific Ocean drug bust 105 ton marijuana drug bust 12 ton Coast Guard drug bust 13.8 . August 26th, 2021 8:47 pm, Beach Boy on This may be the biggest meth bust in American. ballistic gel dummy with bones. . Police discovered more than 300 pounds of drugs worth $1 million during a traffic stop in southwestern Arizona. | By WEAR ABC 3 News, Pensacola | Facebook Log In Next: Lets head down the coast for No. One of the biggest drug busts Alabamas ever seen featured a father and his 15-year old son towing 115 pounds of crystal meth worth $3 million through Baldwin County. 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. August 27th, 2021 6:07 pm, JAnine on This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. August 30th, 2021 9:20 pm, Don Dixon Jr on PENSACOLA, Fla (WKRG) The Escambia County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT Team arrested two men at a home at 2987 Michael Drive and they're facing several drug charges. August 26th, 2021 8:16 pm, Joshua jenkins on This isnt a comprehensive list of the biggest drug busts, but it gives you an idea of how much money is at stake. Jalisco New Generation Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New York City as a major hub. A major source of the cocaine supply into Pensacola and Northwest Florida has been "knocked out", according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Others involved in the ring have been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and face maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680. The total lot size is .54 acres (2,200m2). Los Zetas Cartel is the least influential of the 6 Mexican cartels, but this doesn't mean that its members aren't dangerous people. Ten handguns, including one equipped with a silencer, were confiscated by the authorities. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons told the News Journal that the local area experiences an opioid-related overdose on an almost daily basis. Thirty-one arrested, two wanted in undercover drug bust by: Ashlyn Williams. A total of 63 suspects have been identified, and about half have been arrested. Indeed, it seems that not a week goes by without a report of "one of the biggest drug busts in Utah's history," "Brooklyn's biggest drug bust in history," "one of the biggest drug . Mr. Dumont said the leaders of the ring were Carlos Fernandez, 32 years old, of Miami and David Barco, 32, of Elizabeth. 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. These cartels primarily employ Mexican nationals to oversee their distribution operations in the United States. 2 Alabama rallies, beats rival Auburn 90-85 in, 2 hurt, dog rescued in crash on Schillinger Rd. A brother-sister duo, a quiet suburb, and a false attic wall hiding $24 million in cash made trafficking marijuana. 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. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. CJNG continues to be the Mexican TCO with second-most widespread national influence. 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. August 26th, 2021 7:46 pm, Just Me on 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. [citation needed]. Nahn Thanh Vo, 38, was arrested Aug. 19. August 26th, 2021 9:46 pm, No Excuses on September 1st, 2021 1:06 pm, J-THE-G on October 20th, 2020 9:08 pm, Don Rojo on 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. October 20th, 2020 3:10 pm, Bruce johnson on We're committed to stopping the ones who are selling it and opening up their homes for this type of dangerous behavior.". The largest marijuana distributor to ever peddle pot in the history of Escambia County has been arrested, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. "And many of those are fentanyl-related, because fentanyl can be added to other drugs, and people don't really know what they're getting," Simmons said. In 1989, authorities seized more than 21 tons of cocaine worth roughly $6.9 billion on the street sitting in a nondescript warehouse. Thats what Ill tell you.. "To put that in perspective, just a couple of milligrams of fentanyl are considered fatal," Simmons said. Updated: Sep 22, 2022 / 05:30 AM EDT. The business operation was closed on September 16, 2004, due to Hurricane Ivan. Press Release October 21st, 2020 11:32 am, Lance on February 22, 2023. But I think its safe to say that for Mr. Vo, his days of living large, fancy-car driving, gold-jewelry wearing, lavish-lifestyle living, his Ric Flair days are over, Simmons said. There are at least 13 U.S. cities that are used as distribution hubs by the Mexican drug cartels. August 26th, 2021 7:29 pm, Get em all on Enough 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 ", 2021 fentanyl statistics:Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. "I just want to say merry Christmas to Escambia County residents, certainly those that live in this area, and I want to say how proud I am of our narcotics unit and our partners here locally," Simmons said while concluding the press conference. The illegal narcotics worth. One happened in Harlingen in southeast Texas in 1989. Simmons also said there was a 4-month-old child in the house laying next to powdered fentanyl and said the department is investigating that situation. 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. Drug trafficking is probably the most lucrative illegal money maker, which the richest drug dealers of all time can attest to. August 29th, 2021 11:25 am, Michal Payton on 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. Eighteen of those arrested or being sought live in Florida and 11 live in New York. PENSACOLA, Fla. ( WKRG) A man is in jail after the largest marijuana bust in Escambia County history. Moonrocks are apparently to help you go to the moon, if youre into that sort of thing. October 20th, 2020 7:31 am, Oversight on I can tell you, marijuana will be a little bit harder to come by here in Escambia County, Simmons said at a Thursday press conference at which he announced the arrest. The search warrant resulted in one arrest. All of those involved in the ring are Colombian nationals, according to the authorities. Gulf Cartel is the 5th most influential Mexican drug cartel in the U.S.. Gulf Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Houston as a major hub. Based in the city of Guadalajara, CJNG is the fastest growing drug cartel and the second biggest player in the United States. August 27th, 2021 11:29 am, Green rocket on Well, the Drug Enforcement Agency aided the Edmonton police force as it made itslargest cash seizure to that point. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. The Sandshaker Lounge, Package Store and Sandwich Shop, located at 731 Pensacola Beach Boulevard, Pensacola Beach, Florida, consists of two small bars and lounge area totaling approximately 1,978 square feet (183.8m2). 13-6b (M FIRST DEGREE) #2 ADDED PENDING. 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. Juarez Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses El Paso as a major hub. 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. But Coody and Simmons added that they both anticipate that Vo could face additional charges at the official conclusion of an investigation. Related: ECSO seizes $2.2 million of powdered cocaine largest in recent department history. One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. This investigation began because of a series of violent crimes that we had earlier this year, Simmons said. A cocaine/heroin/fentanyl mixture weighed in at 189.5 grams. Inside the home, they found cocaine, heroin, Oxycodone, MDMA, Tramadol, marijuana, Fentanyl, handguns and drug paraphernalia. 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 different homes on Diego Circle, West Lloyd Street, Chapel Street and West Jackson Street. August 26th, 2021 6:15 pm, End the Drug War on Melonie Holt "I would say that it is impossible to tell the exact impact of the seizure or the number of lives saved.". Gun crime:Escambia County had 25 homicides already in 2022. Castillo, who played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets & others during his 15-year career, .Ex-MLB Stars Accused In Biggest Drug Bust In Dominican Republic History.Share. "The DEA reports that 2 milligrams of fentanyl are lethal," Simmons said at the press conference. Next: Where have we heard this one before? "This is a major drug dealer who distributes to people throughout the county," Simmons said. ", 2021 fentanyl statistics:Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) is the third most significant Mexican drug cartel in the United States, followed by Juarez Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel. August 31st, 2021 10:07 am, Cwchill on "I can tell you, marijuana will be a. Mexican drug cartels also convert wealthy Chinese nationals' Renminbi (RMB) to US dollars at a lower rate than the prevailing market rate. Sylmar is something of a sleepy town northwest of Los Angeles, but its the site of what might be the biggest drug bust ever. Click to skip ahead and see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. Escambia County EMS crews responded to 1,095 overdose calls in 2021. Our ranking methodology is quite simple. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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.". 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Next: The biggest bust this city has ever seen. Smith was booked into the Escambia County Jail on March 4 with bond, and county records indicated that he remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon. This is probably not the last time you hear about CJNG as it is more willing to engage in violent confrontations with rival cartels and security forces. The Georgia State Patrol pulled over a car that contained drugs. Crazy if you do it, but apparently its a thing now.. 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. Florida Gov. The arrests were made in early morning sweeps in New Jersey, New York and Florida by more than 400 officers. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge haul of narcotics near a . The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Rhode Island has some of the loosest marijuana laws in the country, but you avoid trouble only when you have a little bit. The largest marijuana distributorto ever peddle pot in the history of Escambia County has been arrested, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. "That means we had enough lethal fentanyl to kill 800,000 people. 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. Police in Florida issued arrest warrants for over members of a suspected drug gang on Wednesday and seized enough fentanyl to wipe out a large county. August 26th, 2021 6:14 pm, J.Larry Seale on You can call this one the mole-man drug bust, in a sense. Juarez Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses Oklahoma City as a major hub. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Drug bust in jacksonville fl 2020 Drug bust in jacksonville fl 2020. The others remain wanted. It is also the most significant drug trafficking organization in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Sandshaker&oldid=1098279589, This page was last edited on 15 July 2022, at 03:00. Authorities learned about the ring after Union County police arrested one of the members and he became an informer. Read more: Which Politicians Had Terrible Diseases Like John McCain? That arrest triggered an eight-month investigation that included the placing of court-authorized telephone taps at nine locations, including the travel agency, where an electronic listening device was also installed. That's enough to conceivably kill every person in Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County and Walton County. Many are first-time or casual users. Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. More than $1 billion worth of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded by the Coast Guard'sCutter . Next: The U.S. helps with an international drug bust. 360 WEST RUBY STREET | TAVARES, FLORIDA 32778 | 352. 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 different homes on Diego Circle, West Lloyd Street, Chapel Street and West Jackson Street. See the article in its original context from. 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