PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Dozens were arrested in a “large-scale” drug operation, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the operation resulted in dozens of arrests and seized drugs, money, and firearms.
“There’s about a million people that live in Pinellas County, and those three kilos yesterday could have killed every Florida man, Florida man, and child in Pinellas County – and a time in a half,” Sheriff Gualtieri said.
The sheriff’s office arrested 24 suspects on Tuesday during “Operation Dirty Ink,” which initially launched in January 2023.
“We got a problem and people are dying from it and dying from it at the hands of these people that are peddling this poison,” said the Sheriff.
Since the operation began, the organization acquired and distributed nearly 400 kilograms of cocaine, 50 kilograms of fentanyl, and 20 pounds of methamphetamine. On Tuesday, deputies seized 12 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, $237,000 in cash, and several firearms.
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Suspects soaked kilos of cocaine in gasoline (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office) -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office -
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
According to the affidavits, there were eight charges of trafficking cocaine, one for trafficking fentanyl, and two for trafficking methamphetamine. Two charges were listed for conspiracy to traffic meth, and one for conspiracy to sell marijuana.
There were nine charges for the unlawful use of a communications device, three charges for operating a drug house, and one charge each for the following; battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly intoxication, domestic battery, violation of pretrial release, and violation of injunction for protection against domestic violence.
The affidavits show one charge for conspiracy to sell fentanyl and MDMA and two for conspiracy to sell cocaine. There were two charges for possession of MDMA and three for possession of marijuana.
Four charges were shown for armed trafficking and conspiracy of cocaine and one regarding fentanyl. Two felons were charged for possession of a firearm and two felons for possession of ammunition.
