All suspects were charged with a total of 355 felonies and 93 misdemeanors.
Foto:
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
MIAMI – An undercover drug investigation in central Florida has resulted in 85 arrests and the seizure of millions of dollars worth of illicit drugsas part of a smuggling carried out on regular flights from California to this southern state, authorities reported this Friday.
The investigation called “Operation Flying Ice” began in September 2020 from a search warrant in Winter Haven, in Polk County, Florida, where methamphetamine was seized.
From that point on, according to a statement from the Polk Sheriff’s Office, detectives continued to make narcotics purchases from dealers in Winter Haven.
There they learned that large quantities of methamphetamine were being smuggled from California to Florida in checked luggage on domestic flights.
In February 2022, according to the statement, it was authorized, by judicial means, some telephone audios within the criminal organization of drug traffickers.
As a result of the investigation, 85 suspects were arrested and charged with a total of 355 felonies and 93 misdemeanors.
Detectives also served 14 search warrants in Auburndale, Davenport, Polk City, Lake Wales, Winter Haven and Riverview, all in Florida, as well as in Fresno, California.
In the searches, the authorities seized illegal drugs, firearms and more than $200,000 in cash.
Among the list of drugs seized are cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and a strong painkiller known as Oxycodone.
“I am so proud of our detectives and law enforcement officers who partnered with us to get these dangerous and criminal drugs off the street.” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said.
According to Judd, who said leads are still being pursued for further arrests, this was the largest wiretap-related investigation in Polk County history.
“Operation Flying Ice” lasted almost two years and involved detectives from the Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).in collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies across the country.
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