TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Over a dozen suspects are behind bars following a multi-state drug trafficking investigation tying thousands of pounds of drugs to a Central Florida-based drug ring.
U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg told reporters Thursday that a network of couriers relied on planes, trains, and package delivery services to transport thousands of kilograms of methamphetamines and fentanyl across the nation.
Some couriers were given between $100,000 and $200,00 in cash to fly to California where they were instructed to purchase the drugs from an undisclosed dealer.
“The couriers would then fly back to Florida with their checked bags full of drugs — usually methamphetamine,” Handberg said.
Investigators identified 350 flights over a two-year period amounting to “at least 100 round trips from Florida to California.”
These flights were typically between Palm Springs or Los Angeles International Airport in California to Orlando International Airport.”
“Agents have seized over 70 kilograms of methamphetamines and 2 kilograms of fentanyl from suitcases of conspirators who had taken some of those flights,” Handberg added.
Some couriers also purchased train tickets to smuggle the drugs across state borders. Handberg said in April 2022, one courier was caught at a train station in Virginia with more than 4 kg of methamphetamines in a suitcase.
Hundreds of mailed packages were also used to transport methamphetamines from California and fentanyl from China.
Authorities said the California source of supply shipped packages containing anywhere between 1 to 10 lbs or more of methamphetamine at a time. Nearly 400 packages were identified – each containing between 6 and 7 lbs of meth per package.
“For over six years, this organization trafficked in thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl,” Handberg said. “Thousands of kilograms that were intended for distribution here in Central Florida and elsewhere in the United States.”
Seventeen defendants were charged, 14 were arrested, and three remain on the run. Each defendant faces up to life in prison.
