Polk County Sheriff’s Office Central Florida HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) task force detectives, working with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, successfully concluded two drug trafficking investigations involving central Florida-based drug trafficking organizations.
Both investigations resulted in the arrest of ten men and one woman who were involved in trafficking multiple kilos of fentanyl and cocaine.
A total of 14 kilos of cocaine and 3 ½ kilos of bulk fentanyl and fentanyl pills were seized, along with four firearms, a vehicle, and $12,985 US currency.
The investigations were conducted with the assistance of the State Financial Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E) Florida Program managed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“I’m proud of our detectives and partner agencies who worked hard to remove 17 ½ kilos of destructive drugs off the streets. We are all working together to fight fentanyl, which is killing people by the thousands in the US because of drug overdoses. These drug traffickers are destroying lives, families and communities. These drugs go hand-in-hand with violence and misery in our communities,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Espinosa & Romero Central Florida Drug Trafficking Organization; 5 arrests
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Central Florida HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) task force detectives, working with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, successfully concluded a drug trafficking investigation involving a central Florida-based drug trafficking organization.
Undercover detectives identified 56-year-old Pedro Luis “Bemba” Romero of Kissimmee. Romero was believed to be involved in the sale of multiple kilos of cocaine. Romero has a criminal history that included robbery, trafficking in cocaine, other narcotics violations related to MDMA and cocaine, and federal narcotic violations that resulted in Romero being incarcerated in federal prison for 80 months.
Detectives arranged to buy a kilo of cocaine from Romero in Haines City in November of 2023. Romero brought his drug supplier, 44-year-old Maximo Espinosa of Kissimmee, with him to the drug transaction.
Further investigation revealed that Espinosa was operating a Drug Trafficking Organization operating between the northeast United States, South Florida, Puerto Rico and Mexico trafficking kilo amounts of cocaine and fentanyl.
Espinosa had previously been arrested federally for armed trafficking in Heroin.
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Two other meetings were arranged in December where the undercover detective received a sample of fentanyl and then purchased a kilo of fentanyl from Espinosa. Another transaction for larger amounts of both cocaine and fentanyl was arranged with Espinosa and Romero to take place on January 2, 2024 at a location in Haines City.
On that date, detectives learned that Espinosa’s contacts would travel to Polk County to provide the fentanyl. During the evening hours of January 2, 2024, an undercover detective met with Espinosa; he showed the detective ten kilos of cocaine and two kilos of fentanyl in the trunk of his car.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies, working with other agencies, took Espinosa into custody. A separate vehicle involved in the drug transaction contained 35-year-old Pedro Mejia of West Palm Beach, and 22-year-old Pedro Olivares of Wimauma (the fentanyl suppliers).
During the arrests, a white BMW fled the area, physically striking one of the undercover deputy’s leg (the deputy was later transported to the hospital, was treated and cleared with no serious injury).
The fleeing BMW was tracked visually through the use of aerial surveillance, which directed law enforcement vehicles and members to unincorporated Winter Haven, where law enforcement strategically moved vehicles into position. The fleeing BMW was immobilized with minimal damage.
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The driver, 34-year-old Omar Veloz of West Palm Beach, was taken into custody without further incident. Detectives later determined that Veloz and Mejia are on federal probation for trafficking narcotics.
Detectives believe Romero was in the area of the drug transaction and fled the area undetected. Romero was later arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and booked into the Polk County Jail.
Maximo Espinosa was taken into Federal custody where he faces drug trafficking charges. Veloz, Mejia, and Olivares were charged and booked into the Polk County Jail. Romero was later arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail.
As a result of the investigation, detectives seized: 12 kilograms of cocaine, 3 ½ kilograms fentanyl powder and fentanyl pills, 2 firearms, a vehicle, and $4,450 in US currency.
Colon-Colon Drug Trafficking Organization
Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives, working as a part of the Central Florida HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) task force, arrested six suspects on December 17, 2023, who were part of a drug trafficking organization known to sell trafficking amounts of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Investigators learned in August of 2023 that a man named Luis Salcedo-Rodriguez aka “Flaco” was linked with drug trafficking in Polk County. Detectives met with Salcedo-Rodriguez who offered to sell kilos of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to undercover detectives.
During the investigation, detectives learned the source of supply of the cocaine offered by Salcedo-Rodriguez was Roosevelt Colon-Colon of Poinciana.
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Detectives first arranged for the purchase of 1 kilo of cocaine. In December, detectives arranged a second purchase for additional cocaine.
An undercover detective initially met Luis Salcedo and 29-year-old Miguel Berdecia who arrived in a BMW sedan. While they were talking, a pickup truck arrived containing Roosevelt Colon-Colon and Julio Arroyo Rodriguez—they were in possession of 1 kilo of cocaine.
During the conversation, another vehicle arrived. That vehicle contained 44-year-old Jazmine Colon, 47-year-old Omar Medina and a 7-year-old girl who was in Jazmine Colon’s custody.
Sheriff’s deputies stopped all of the vehicles and arrested all involved (except for the 7-year-old). Julio Arroyo Rodriguez had a loaded 9mm handgun on him as he was taken into custody and Colon-Colon threw a 9mm handgun from his waistband on the floorboard of the truck just prior to being taken into custody.
A total of 2+ kilos of cocaine were obtained during the investigation (2,198.91 grams). $8,535 in US currency and two firearms were seized during the arrest in December.
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