Six people are under arrest and charged with involvement in a drug trafficking operation in Florida’s Big Bend. The arrests are thanks to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and a wide-ranging network of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
The law enforcement agencies say they’ve seized large amounts of fentanyl, marijuana, other illegal narcotics, a stolen firearm, and amounts of cash consistent with illicit drug trafficking.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil credits the collaboration among the agencies, including rural counties in the Big Bend.
“There’s no place that these folks won’t go to try to sell their drugs and basically kill our children," said McNeil. "And that’s why we put this High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area together. Obviously, that meant that we got a designation from the federal government that said they will also stand with us to deal with these issues.”
Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young agreed.
“This is poison that they are spreading to our children," he said. "And, of course, you couple that with guns? I mean, it’s war on our streets. And so, we’ve got to do all we can to make sure we remove the drugs and guns from our community. So again, today is a big day. It’s a really big day. This is one case out of so many that need to be worked in North Florida.”
Most of those arrested are facing 25-year minimum mandatory sentences. The case is still ongoing, with more people under investigation.
McNeil also linked the drug crimes to gun violence, and his office is launching the Secure Guns, Save Lives campaign. Since the start 0f 2024, 102 guns have been stolen from vehicles in Leon County. So, the LCSO is giving away 100 gun boxes, one per household, which can be claimed at the sheriff’s office on Municipal Way until they run out.
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Law enforcement involved in the North Florida HIDTA CADRE Initiative: LCSO Vice and Narcotics Unit, the Office of State Wide Prosecution, the Leon County Attorney’s Office (2nd Judicial Circuit), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office (North Star Drug Task Force), the Florida Highway Patrol, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
