We're committed to stopping the ones who are selling it and opening up their homes for this type of dangerous behavior.". In 1989, authorities seized more than 21 tons of cocaine worth roughly $6.9 billion on the street sitting in a nondescript warehouse. October 20th, 2020 10:47 am, Paul on Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto shop. 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. Click to skip ahead and see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. 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. Gun crime:Escambia County had 25 homicides already in 2022. There are warrants for an additional 29 people. Acting on a tip, authorities searched a house and discovered nearly 18,000 pounds of wrapped cocaine estimated to be worth $1 billion. Here are our rankings using DEA's data: Los Zetas Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New Orleans as a major hub. ", 2021 fentanyl statistics:Escambia County has 63% of fentanyl deaths in 4-county area in 2021, deaths increased 48%. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. 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.". According to the DEA, Mexican drug cartels continue to expand their presence and forge partnerships with other transnational gangs, U.S. street gangs, prison gangs, and Chinese money laundering organizations. Next: Lets head down the coast for No. Jaquan Charmine Xavier Smith, 26, of Pensacola, has so far been charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, resisting arrest without violence, driving with a suspended license and violation of probation. They estimated the drugs to be worth at least $870,000 on the street. The U.S. Coast Guard uncovered thousands of pounds worth of drugs from a Florida port on Thursday. August 27th, 2021 10:14 am, fisherman on 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. Authorities learned about the ring after Union County police arrested one of the members and he became an informer. The seizure also helped police shut down business specializing in selling marijuana horticulture supplies. 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. August 27th, 2021 1:29 pm, Chris 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. October 20th, 2020 9:08 pm, Don Rojo 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. October 20th, 2020 10:15 am, Allan Mitchell on Which Politicians Had Terrible Diseases Like John McCain. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. August 26th, 2021 8:16 pm, Joshua jenkins on The U.S. Coast Guard has been involved in plenty of massive drug seizures in its history, but one from 2007 is one of the biggest drug busts in U.S. history. They arrested Marcus Blankenship and Steven Brown and there were three other people inside at the time. Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most successful drug cartels in Mexico. October 20th, 2020 3:10 pm, Bruce johnson on All of those involved in the ring are Colombian nationals, according to the authorities. We know what youre thinking Canada isnt the United States, so how come it shows up on our countdown? by: Ashlyn Williams. Narcotics that used to sell locally for $10 a pill now command as much as $80. All the smaller busts weve discussed so far happened in the 21st century, and were guessing its because the kingpins and cartels got tired of all the mammoth seizures late in the 20th century. Disclosure: 13 US Cities That Are Crowded By Mexican Drug Cartels is originally published at Insider Monkey. PENSACOLA, Fla. ( WKRG) A man is in jail after the largest marijuana bust in Escambia County history. 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. One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Sandshaker&oldid=1098279589, This page was last edited on 15 July 2022, at 03:00. All Rights Reserved. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is the youngest of the top 6 Mexican drug cartels. Here's the latest bracketology predictions. Click to skip ahead and see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels . "This is a major drug dealer who distributes to people throughout the county," Simmons said. Channel 3's Rebekah Castor is live with the. The biggest raids happened in the 20th century, but check out No. The cocaine ring was centered on a small bar, the Sandshaker, on the island town of Pensacola Beach.[2][3]. 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. Read more: Which Politicians Had Terrible Diseases Like John McCain? August 26th, 2021 6:14 pm, J.Larry Seale on Brown had an active warrant for trafficking in heroin. August 26th, 2021 6:15 pm, End the Drug War on A warehouse raid in Hayward in the east bay seized 1,200 pounds of heroin worth roughly $3 billion. Press Release. Bidding for the Sandshaker Lounge, Package Store and Sandwich Shop was conducted on online auction site Bid4Assets and bidding started at $295,000. ': Corey Marioneaux Jr. speaks out after being cleared in Pensacola SWAT case. 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. Forget talking about just drug dealers, Pablo Escobar is one of the richest criminals who ever lived. August 26th, 2021 6:46 pm, Just Me on Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Feds: Chavez a drug kingpin." Gulf Breeze News, December 13, 2007. The sheriff added that further arrests of more peoplein connection toVos operations also could occur pending the investigation's completion. Posted: Sep 21, 2022 / 02:46 PM EDT. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Dallas as a major hub. Click to see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. 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. All accounts, contract rights, accounts receivables and general intangible rights relating to or otherwise existing as a consequence of the operation are included in the auction. The SWAT team made entry to the home after knocking and announcing who they were. 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. Pensacon headlines your 5 Things to do this Weekend! Then, authorities discovered how the suspect got all those drugs via a 600-foot tunnel that crossed the border to Mexico. October 20th, 2020 2:59 pm, Conservative centrist on August 26th, 2021 8:47 pm, Beach Boy on Many are first-time or casual users. There are at least 13 U.S. cities that are used as distribution hubs by the Mexican drug cartels. ballistic gel dummy with bones. August 26th, 2021 7:46 pm, Just Me on 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. 13 US Cities That Are Crowded By Mexican Drug Cartels. Rep. Michelle Salzman Calls For Resignation Of School Superintendent Tim Smith, Two Women Charged With Working Together On Multiple Retail Thefts, Catholic Church Plans New Community Center On Highway 29 In Cantonment, ECSO Investigating Reported Abduction Of Teen Girl In Bratt; She Was Found Unharmed, Located: Woman Wanted For Questioning In Deadly Escambia Pit Bull Attack, 11 Arrested In Internet Child Predator Sting, Atmore Man Charged With Reckless Murder Of His 2-Year Old Child, Cantonment Man Charged With Assault With A Deadly Weapon, All Star High School Soccer Game Is Wednesday Night, Tall Job: Crews Paint Walnut Hill Water Tower, DAVID FRANKLIN on Attorney General Kimmelman praised the cooperation among the law enforcement agencies involved, including Federal, state, county and local police departments. Posted: Jun 10, 2021 / 04:59 PM EDT. "Our Narcotics Unit worked pretty hard, and these results are indicative of that effort and commitment to the citizens of Escambia County," Simmons said. It is also the most significant drug trafficking organization in the United States. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. A month of surveillance and a coordinated law enforcement effort produced one of the biggest drug busts weve ever seen. Five people have been arrested in connection to a huge haul of narcotics near a . It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680. The tunnel police found in California was 600 yards long, had lights and a working elevator, and contained 32 tons of marijuana worth roughly $65 million. The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that it was offloading a record-shattering amount of cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Kingpins can make billions when their drugs hit the street, but the authorities do their best to prevent that from happening. August 27th, 2021 11:29 am, Green rocket on August 26th, 2021 9:46 pm, No Excuses on On Aug. 18, authorities conducted 11 simultaneous search warrants on properties with ties to Vos dealings. 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. Another 2018 haul is one of the biggest drug busts in U.S. history. Pensacola News Journal 0:03 1:21 The Escambia County Sheriff's Office made a major drug bust earlier this month that resulted in the seizure of a deadly amount of fentanyl and 20 pounds of. 1 on the countdown. The business operation was closed on September 16, 2004, due to Hurricane Ivan. 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