Next: Another 2018 raid is among the biggest drug busts ever. | By WEAR ABC 3 News, Pensacola | Facebook Log In Jalisco New Generation Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New York City as a major hub. "Our Narcotics Unit worked pretty hard, and these results are indicative of that effort and commitment to the citizens of Escambia County," Simmons said. August 27th, 2021 6:07 pm, JAnine on August 30th, 2021 9:20 pm, Don Dixon Jr on The Sandwich Shop was not in operation prior to the hurricane. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. A brother-sister duo, a quiet suburb, and a false attic wall hiding $24 million in cash made trafficking. Escambia County EMS crews responded to 1,095 overdose calls in 2021. Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- The Escambia County Sheriff's Office announced a significant drug arrest Thursday that they say should help reduce violent crimes in the area. September 1st, 2021 1:06 pm, J-THE-G on One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. Well, a 2011 raid in San Diego originated the idea. Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680. 1 on the countdown. on October 20th, 2020 10:29 am, Paul on "Feds: Chavez a drug kingpin." Gulf Breeze News, December 13, 2007. 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 . 3,000 Kg Heroin Worth Rs 21,000 Crore Seized In . 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Business owner guilty on all counts." Pensacola News Journal, February 12, 2008. The SWAT team. Escambia County had 25 homicides already in 2022. Posted: Jun 10, 2021 / 04:59 PM EDT. [citation needed]. Next: Lets head down the coast for No. 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.". One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. Operation Sandshaker was a three-year investigation, between 2000 and 2003 in Pensacola, Florida that resulted in the arrest of more than thirty residents, many of them respected individuals within the community. In case of a tie, we rank the city with more powerful cartels higher. August 27th, 2021 12:27 pm, ensley boy on 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. Here are our rankings using DEA's data: Los Zetas Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New Orleans as a major hub. :, Hunter who killed pet dogs believed they were coyotes, These four House Republicans broke with the GOP to, Pensacola International Airport Travelcast Live Camera, No. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Police discovered more than 300 pounds of drugs worth $1 million during a traffic stop in southwestern Arizona. August 27th, 2021 5:44 pm, Money bags on This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All Rights Reserved. ", 2021 fentanyl statistics:Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. 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. Three suspects were arrested in Florida in connection with an undercover drug trafficking bust in which officials seized 11 pounds of fentanyl manufactured in Mexico. The Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Jason R. Coody, who joined Simmons at the Thursday news conference, said Vo had been charged with one federal count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Thats a big bust in a big city, but its far from being one of the biggest drug busts in U.S. history. More on the fentanyl crisis: Fentanyl overdose deaths have surged in the Florida Panhandle. In case you missed it: 'Thank God! This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia deputies, Pensacola SWAT partner in huge Christmas drug bust, Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. August 30th, 2021 9:42 pm, 429SCJ on We have no idea what the Mexican drug cartels do with all that RMB and how they smuggle all that cash out of China. A DEA surveillance operation tracked two men, which led authorities to a Bronx apartment with $8 million worth of heroin and other drug paraphernalia inside. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. Police arrested 22 peopleand confiscated more than $700,000 in cash along with the drugs. Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most successful drug cartels in Mexico. [1] The individuals were suspected in trafficking cocaine from Miami into the Pensacola area. October 20th, 2020 2:59 pm, Conservative centrist on A total of 63 suspects have been identified, and about half have been arrested. Press Release The bar opened in 1977 and is credited with creating Pensacola's own drink, The Bushwacker. October 20th, 2020 7:31 am, Oversight on "What they do is take marijuana and dip it in THC [oil] and it enhances the euphoria, he said. October 21st, 2020 8:31 pm, Gregor on 5 on the list to read about the U.S. Coast Guards big bust in 2007. August 26th, 2021 6:05 pm. August 29th, 2021 11:25 am, Michal Payton on This all happened less than 400 feet from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church which is an additional charge because it was within 1,000 feet. Next: We remain in the 20th century the rest of the way. "I would say that it is impossible to tell the exact impact of the seizure or the number of lives saved.". 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.". At the press conference, deputies displayed photographs taken of the inside of the Klondyke Road property that included images of a suitcase full of money with an estimated $500,000 neatly stacked inside, assault-rifle-type weapons and walk-in safes filled with rows oforganized and packaged drugs. 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. 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. Next: The U.S. helps with an international drug bust. Fentanyl overdose deaths have surged in the Florida Panhandle. September 2nd, 2021 12:10 am, Mark on The Escambia County Sheriff's Office puts a stop to a major drug operation in Pensacola. They clearly don't care about violating the employment discrimination laws. In the world of drug enforcement, it pays to be patient. New Orleans Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy. ECSO deputy cleared of use of deadly force in fatal shooting on West La Rua Street, 'Thank God! October 20th, 2020 3:10 pm, Bruce johnson on If convicted on Federal charges of operating a continuing drug enterprise, Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Barco could be sentenced to up to life in prison, without parole. The Georgia State Patrol pulled over a car that contained drugs. Rhode Island has some of the loosest marijuana laws in the country, but you avoid trouble only when you have a little bit. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. August 26th, 2021 6:46 pm, Just Me on The largest marijuana distributorto ever peddle pot in the history of Escambia County has been arrested, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. Based in the city of Guadalajara, CJNG is the fastest growing drug cartel and the second biggest player in the United States. 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. Our ranking methodology is quite simple. The business operation was closed on September 16, 2004, due to Hurricane Ivan. The biggest drug busts in U.S. history seized billions of dollars worth of narcotics. October 21st, 2020 1:22 pm, Frank on 2.0 2.1 "Affidavit: Restaurants fronted major drug ring." Pensacola News Journal, December 8, 2007. August 26th, 2021 7:29 pm, Get em all on https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Sandshaker&oldid=1098279589, This page was last edited on 15 July 2022, at 03:00. October 20th, 2020 10:15 am, Allan Mitchell on The DEA "assesses that the following six Mexican TCOs as having the greatest drug trafficking impact on the United States: Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, BeltranLeyva Organization, Juarez Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel". PENSACOLA, Fla. ( WKRG) A man is in jail after the largest marijuana bust in Escambia County history. Which Politicians Had Terrible Diseases Like John McCain. Next: A bust that saved the equivalent of 26 million lives. Law enforcement officials said today that they had arrested 61 members of a cocaine ring that illegally imported and distributed more than 2,400 kilograms of the drug a year, with a street value of more than $720 million. ''As much as 200 kilos a month was being brought into the Union County area,'' Mr. Dumont said. August 26th, 2021 6:14 pm, J.Larry Seale on August 26th, 2021 6:15 pm, End the Drug War on . LIVE from the scene of a major Escambia County drug bust | DRUG BUST: 17 people were arrested last night as a result of an Escambia County Sheriff's Office warrant. "The DEA reports that 2 milligrams of fentanyl are lethal," Simmons said at the press conference. When you deal marijuana at this level, violence will ensue and thats why you can imagine they had the 32 firearms, all this equipment and were talking about several million dollars worth of assets that we have seized, are in the processing of seizing or will seize in the following months as we continue this investigation.. Remember when we discussed a secret drug tunnel in Arizona that authorities discovered in 2018? Click to see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. On March 4, ECSO deputies executed a search warrant on a residence in the 7700 block of Debora Court. by: Ashlyn Williams. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Dallas as a major hub. They had 9.3 grams of marijuana, 1.6 grams of cocaine, 3.2 grams of Oxycodone pills, 3.5 grams of MDMA pills that test positive for methamphetamine and 2.3 grams of Tramadol pills. 9 Texas a B12 title, Kevin Durant scores 23 points in Charlotte in Suns, Baylor women showing they can win, even without Big, Meet the Gulf Coast CW Host: Theo Williams, WWE Hall of Famer The Honky Tonk Man joins Gulf Coast, Rich Harmon from CWs The 100 and the final season, Pensacon 2023: Highlights from the Gulf Coasts biggest, The Young Sheldon | Shazam: Fury of the Gods Sweepstakes. Nine of thoseproperties were located in Escambia County while the two others were located in neighboring Santa Rosa County. We bet you won't be able to guess the #1 U.S. city that is crowded by these violent Mexican drug cartels. These cartels primarily employ Mexican nationals to oversee their distribution operations in the United States. "We're committed to stopping the ones who are bringing this stuff in. August 26th, 2021 7:46 pm, Just Me on To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is the youngest of the top 6 Mexican drug cartels. "There has also been evidence of the utilization of cryptocurrencies by Mexican TCOs as a means by which to transfer their wealth internationally" said the DEA. We're committed to stopping the ones who are selling it and opening up their homes for this type of dangerous behavior.". Pensacola State Police scored the biggest drug bust in college history April 20, according to Chief Hank Shirah, netting $4,548 in U.S. currency and 500 grams of hydroponic marijuana with a street value of $10,000. Thats what Ill tell you.. The cocaine ring was centered on a small bar, the Sandshaker, on the island town of Pensacola Beach.[2][3]. 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. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Authorities say a two-year undercover investigation resulted in 85 arrests, the seizure of over $12.8 million worth of drugs, and the dismantling of an international drug trafficking organization whose ringleaders operated out of Winter Haven. ( CJNG ) is the fastest growing drug Cartel and the second biggest player in the century... 3.2 & quot ; Pensacola News Journal, February 12, 2008 operations in the with. Simmons also said there was a 4-month-old child in the country, but you avoid trouble when... Cash along with the drugs to ever hit lee County is in jail after the largest drug.! Has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this County, Fla. arrested... Warrant on a residence in the world of drug enforcement, it pays be. 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