Three suspects have been arrested in Florida in connection with a sting operation drug raid in which authorities seized 11 pounds of fentanyl manufactured in Mexico.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said it was the largest fentanyl bust in the agency’s history.
According to investigators, fentanyl was manufactured in Mexico and trafficked to the United States into synthetic tablets and sold on the streets.
The sting operation, which began in September, worked in coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office had received information that an international drug trafficking ring was trafficking fentanyl from Mexico into the city of Bradenton and into Polk County.
Undercover agents arranged for the purchase of Mexican fentanyl of unknown origin for $24,000 per kilo.
Local facilitator of drug purchase identified as 28 years old Ignacio Rodriguez told detectives that Mexican sources would only trade in high volumes and that drug prices would fluctuate based on their quality.
On September 19, detectives negotiated a purchase of $60,000 worth of fentanyl.
Rodriguez showed up for a meeting in Polk County with five of the six kilograms. He hid 2kg in a cereal box of cinnamon toast crunch and 3kg in a yellow igloo he cooler.
The facilitator then warned detectives about the risks of overdose.
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He suggested wearing a mask and gloves and drinking milk before taking the drug to relieve chest tightness. I spoke to
During the investigation, detectives identified two other suspects in North Carolina. Mario Alberto Castro Solache, 29, and Pedro Mondragon, 27, drove from North Carolina to Polk County on Oct. 11 to meet with an undercover agent about another fentanyl sale. .
Castro Solache said he and a Mexican supplier want to establish part of a drug trafficking operation in Polk County and will move to the county to assume responsibility for handling Mexican cartel operations. told to
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The two were detained on Oct. 12 and told detectives they were being paid to raise money for fentanyl drug dealers in Mexico. Castro Solache is an illegal resident and is being held by Border Patrol at the Polk County Jail.
Castro Solache and Mondragon have been charged with a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Mondragon was released on bail on October 17.
Rodriguez was pleaded guilty on October 14 to Manatee County for fentanyl trafficking, conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl, possession of a drug trafficking vehicle, illegal use of a two-way communication device, and possession of drug paraphernalia. detained in the sheriff’s office. He was released from the Manatee County Jail on October 15 after posting $56,500 bail.
“This poison has crossed the border into the country from Mexico and we will continue our investigation into Mexican drug cartels killing innocent people,” Judd said in a statement.