Multi-agency 'Strike Force’ seizes $1.7 million plus in drugs and more and 15 undocumented aliens in Sumter County, FL
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FL-HSMV)
Tallahassee, Florida – On March 6, 2023, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), in partnership with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents, with the assistance of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, concluded a week-long operation in Sumter County, Florida.
The successful collaboration resulted in the interception of 15 undocumented aliens, the seizure of more than four pounds of the deadly drug, fentanyl - enough to kill one million people - 39 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana and other illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and suboxone, along with more that $22,000 in U.S. currency.
The strike force was formed to interdict human smuggling and human trafficking and to seize illegal weapons being transported throughout the state.
"FHP is committed to ensuring safer Florida communities by apprehending individuals who are smuggling undocumented aliens and trafficking dangerous narcotics into our neighborhoods," said Dave Kerner, Executive Director of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FL-HSMV). "The outcome of this operation speaks for itself; law enforcement officers statewide are dedicated to remaining a law-and-order state."
"Every year, FHP patrols over 49,500,000 miles of roadway," said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. "Our troopers are responsible for the safety and welfare of millions of Florida citizens and visitors. To us, safety means many things and includes not only a response to a crash or a speed violation, but it also incorporates what may be inside those vehicles. When our roadways are patrolled and laws enforced, criminals cannot bring their illicit practices into our state."
“These successful and proactive operations stop criminal activity as it’s happening and prevent further victimization,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, if your purpose is to hurt others and commit crimes, we are coming after you.”
Operations like this are instrumental to our mission of providing highway safety and security while underscoring the importance of preventing dangerous substances like fentanyl from being trafficked into our State. This operation also highlights the success of multi-agency operations that apprehend human smugglers and undocumented aliens.
The full list of statistics for the operation ny the the Criminal Interdictions Unit (CIU):
Citations - 29
Faulty Equipment Notices - 17
Warnings - 145
Misdemeanor Charges - 38
Felony Charges - 58
K9'S Used - 28
Drug Charges - 29
Fugitive / Warrants - 9
Undocumented Aliens - 15
Human Smuggling Charges - 4
Fraudulent Temporary Tags - 2
Fraudulent Driver's Licenses - 3
Currency Seized - $22,041
Vehicles Seized - 4
Vehicles Seized Value - $54,654
Vehicles Recovered - 1
Vehicles Recovered Value - $50,000
Guns Recovered - 2
Guns Recovered Value - $1,000
Cocaine - 4.5 grams
Cocaine Value - $450
Fentanyl - 1,950 grams (4.3 pounds)
Fentanyl Value - $292,500
Heroin - 1 gram
Heroin Value - $150
Marijuana - 13,785 grams (30.3 pounds)
Marijuana Value - $275,702
Methamphetamine - 17,729.7 grams (39 pounds)
Methamphetamine Value - $1,063,782
Other - 28 grams of an unspecified dfrup
Other Value - $310
Suboxone - 25 strips
Total Assets - $1,760,949