Drug investigation leads to the largest fentanyl seizure in Citrus County history

Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), August 17, 2024

Citrus County, Florida - In February 2024, law enforcement agencies received information about a drug trafficking operation that spanned across several Florida counties.

Detectives with several agencies immediately began working to develop a strategy to dismantle this drug trafficking organization. The agencies include the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Tactical Impact Unit (CCSO TIU), United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office (PCSO).

The agencies, working together, conducted surveillance and gathered information, using undercover techniques, and after seven months had sufficient information obtain a search warrant for a residence in Homosassa (Citrus County), Florida and two undisclosed locations in Pasco County, Florida. On August 15, 2024, the search warrants were executed at the three locations. Due to the investigation still being ongoing, the addresses were not disclosed and the names of the suspects were not revealed.

The search warrant in Homosassa resulted in the seizures of more that 6 kilograms (or 13 pounds) of fentanyl, nearly 150 grams of methamphetamine, 22 firearms (3 of which were stolen), and $10,808 in cash. The street value of the seized narcotics is estimated at $735,000.

The seized fentanyl was in two different forms - pressed kilogram "bricks" stamped with the organization's trademark, and thousands of counterfeit fentanyl pills stamped so that they appeared to be - but were not - prescription opioids, such as 10 mg oxycodone pills and Percocet pills.

In recent years, the DEA has issued Public Safety Alerts, as a result of learning that 6 out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. This means that any person who buys prescription pills - other than at a legitimate pharmacy - may unknowingly be getting a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, or fentanyl that is laced with other deadly drugs or chemicals.

"Enough fentanyl to kill over three million people has been taken off the streets, in this one operation," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Thursday, while our news conference on a pill mill was taking place, our TIU was serving this warrant. We will never tolerate drug trafficking in Citrus County. Thanks to this unified effort with our local, state, and federal partners, another illegal drug organization has been shut down. I continue to fulfill the promise I made on day one as your Sheriff: 'Illicit narcotics will not be tolerated in Citrus County.'"

"The Citrus County Sheriff's Office has developed strong working relationships with local, state, and federal partners, which enable cases like this to have a successful outcome," said CCSO Community Relations Specialist Madeline Scarborough in a press release. "CCSO currently has two Tactical Impact Unit members assigned to the United States Department of Homeland Security (HSI) Task Force, which has proven to be a force multiplier, as demonstrated by this case."