From illegal immigration to drug bust, the month of February saw a multitude of arrests from the law enforcement division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Stopping Illegal Immigration
State Agricultural Law Enforcement officers intercepted a white cargo van that bypassed an agricultural interdiction station in Nassau County, leading to the arrest of a suspected illegal alien and the detention of four other suspected illegal aliens.
Human Smuggling Interdiction in Nassau County:
In Yulee Florida, Agriculture officers stopped a yellow box truck where the driver and two passengers lacked identification and documentation verifying legal entry into the United States. U.S. Border Patrol was contacted and took all three individuals into custody.
Drug Bust
Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) seized over 29 pounds of cocaine after stopping a white cargo van that bypassed an agricultural interdiction station in Escambia County. The street value of the seizure is $24,000 per bundle, with a total street value of $264,000. Law enforcement officials said the cargo van was quite large and when it decided to bypass the agricultural interdiction station, that prompted them to initiate a traffic stop. Upon inspection, officers discovered a crate holding a large plastic box filled with spray foam that had not yet solidified. Upon further investigation, officers found 11 bricks of cocaine – with a total weight of 29.2 pounds – concealed beneath the foam. The crate had been picked up from a storage unit in El Paso, Texas, and was destined for a location in South Florida.
Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson said the drug seizure of this size when intercepting criminals and illicit contraband would endanger Florida communities.
“I’m proud of the work our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement – and the men and women who put their lives on the line every day,” said the Commissioner.
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