The Polk County Sheriff’s Office successfully dismantled a Mexican drug trafficking organization that was operating in multiple states. During the operation, deputies made a significant seizure of 14 kilograms (30.86 pounds) of fentanyl, the largest in the county’s history. This amount of fentanyl is enough to potentially cause harm to one-third of the state’s population, highlighting the significant impact of the operation.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, two out of the four individuals who were taken into custody were in the country illegally.
“Fentanyl, the drug that is entering the United States from Mexico through an unsecured border, has become a lethal threat across the nation,” Judd stated firmly during a press briefing. He continued, “It’s disheartening that every time I address a fentanyl-related operation, I find myself announcing another record-breaking seizure in Florida. Today, I am once again making that announcement. The recent confiscation of 14 kilos of fentanyl marks the largest seizure ever recorded in Polk County’s history.”
According to Judd, the two criminal aliens they apprehended did not enter the country with the intention of improving their lives or supporting their families. Instead, they unlawfully crossed the border to distribute a dangerous drug and harm people in America. Judd emphasized the urgent need to secure the porous border and prevent such criminal activities.
“What’s truly terrifying,” he expressed, “is that the amount of drugs we confiscated could potentially wipe out entire communities.” According to his account, his team of deputies has seized such a significant quantity of fentanyl since January 2023 that it could potentially eliminate the entire population of 14 counties in Florida. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as they have also managed to rescue 23 individuals from the clutches of fentanyl poisoning by promptly administering Narcan, a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
According to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico is responsible for the record-breaking amount of fentanyl seized in Polk County. She emphasized that this amount of fentanyl is enough to kill a third of the state. Moody expressed concern over the open border, stating that it allows such illicit substances to enter the country.
According to The Center Square, over 10 million individuals have entered the country since President Joe Biden took office in 2021. This surge in immigration has resulted in more than 1.7 million illegal entries in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, marking the highest number in U.S. history.
Moody expressed concern about the open border, stating that as long as it remains unrestricted, there will be a continuous influx of individuals who have crossed over illegally and are smuggling dangerous drugs into the state.
In addition, she mentioned that law enforcement officers and prosecutors in Florida are actively pursuing the individuals involved in the sale of harmful substances. The Florida legislature has also taken steps to ensure that law enforcement officers and first responders have adequate funding. Moreover, they are committed to providing residents with substance abuse issues a wide range of resources to address their needs.
In August 2023, an investigation into a Mexican drug trafficking organization that specializes in fentanyl was initiated by the sheriff’s operation. Collaborating with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, and the State Attorney’s Office 10th Judicial Circuit, the operation was set in motion.
Polk County Sheriff’s detectives conducted an undercover operation during the initial phase of their investigation. They successfully acquired two kilograms of fentanyl from a drug trafficker in Mexico. The detectives, then, strategically planned a face-to-face exchange at a motel in Lakeland, where they received one kilogram of the illicit substance. Further progress was made as they arranged for an additional delivery. The trafficking organization agreed to transport 11 more kilograms of fentanyl to Polk County.
On April 22, 2024, Judd’s team apprehended four individuals at a prearranged spot in Polk County. The purpose of their meeting was to deliver 11 kilos of undisclosed substances. The arrested individuals were identified as Maria Machuca-Alderete, Maria Guadalupe-Garcia, Sergio Garcia, and Pedro Rodriguez-Correa. Authorities are currently searching for a fifth individual who is believed to have been involved but remains at large.
According to Judd, Garcia, a U.S. Army veteran, transported the drugs from California to Florida. The drugs originated from Sinaloa, Mexico. Guadalupe-Garcia, Garcia’s wife, revealed that they were offered $42,500 to transport the drugs to Florida.
Rodriguez-Correa, an undocumented immigrant, transported the four individuals accused of trafficking fentanyl, accompanied by a 6-year-old boy. The Florida Department of Children & Families was notified and took custody of the child.
According to the sheriff’s office, the detectives confiscated two vehicles that were utilized by the drug traffickers, along with a total of $5,461 in cash.
