In a significant law enforcement operation, Florida authorities have apprehended 20 individuals and are actively seeking 13 others linked to a major drug trafficking network, announced Sheriff Dennis Lemma on Tuesday.
According to Sheriff Lemma, the group is accused of distributing various illicit substances, including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and “Molly,” alongside trafficking in a variety of firearms such as machine guns, rifles, and handguns.
Among the alarming tactics employed by the organization, members allegedly attempted to utilize a drone to drop contraband items like cell phones, SIM cards, razors, and tobacco beyond the secured perimeter of a Florida correctional facility.
Another method involved a UPS manager purportedly intercepting packages with falsified addresses and delivering them to individuals associated with the trafficking ring, as stated by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in a press release.
Dubbed “Operation Black Ice,” the extensive law enforcement effort commenced in October 2023 and engaged the cooperation of local, state, and federal agencies.
Key highlights from the operation include:
- 24 undercover transactions amounting to $160,000 in drugs and firearms
- Confiscation of cocaine and over a dozen firearms from a residential property
- Thwarting a murder-for-hire scheme targeting an incarcerated inmate
- Additional arrests of suspected individuals in Seminole and Orange counties
Sheriff Lemma emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies in combating the drug epidemic, stating, “For years, we have emphasized that we cannot arrest our way out of the drug epidemic facing our country, but we also must hold drug dealers accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” He further underscored the commitment to addressing illicit narcotics on the streets, particularly the deadly impact of fentanyl and associated organized crime.
