SHARPES — Dozens of people were arrested or being sought as part of a major multi-agency investigation into crystal meth and heroin operations taking place along the Space Coast, authorities announced Wednesday. It was dubbed by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey as the largest drug operation to be dismantled in Brevard and involved investigations on the local, state and federal levels.

“We are close to 60 arrests,” said Ivey, speaking on the six-months-long investigation into drug trafficking. Just a few feet away, a table displayed what Ivey described as “enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Brevard County.” Brevard has a population of 580,000 people. 

The operations also seized just over 70 weapons. Another 100 people were being sought with arrest warrants. The arrests were an ongoing response to the impact of the lingering opioid crisis gripping Florida and the resident of the nation. Heroin, fentanyl and prescription pills have impacted lives across Brevard County, from overdose deaths to street crime, police point out.  

The magnitude of the investigation drew Gov. Ron DeSantis along with Florida’s attorney general and others to a press conference called by Ivey at the Brevard County Jail.

DeSantis spoke and pointed out that 172 overdose deaths have been reported in Brevard County. Attorney General Ashley Moody also praised the efforts of the sheriff’s office and added that her office was seeking to pursue litigation on all fronts. “We are going after the corporations who caused this crisis, not just going after street-level dealers,” she said. 

 

The agency displayed thousands of dollars in cash and drugs – including a kilo of fentanyl, a painkiller more powerful than morphine or heroin. Photos of suspects and other drug seizures were plastered on a nearby wall. 

The operation comes as the county struggles to address a slate of overdose deaths connected to the drug trade.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Gov. Ron Desantis announced earlier that they would hold the news conference near the Brevard County Jail Complex about the “culmination of a significant criminal investigation.”

Details were not released about the nature of the investigation to be discussed prior to the scheduled 2 p.m. announcement.

Also in attendance will be Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Brevard County State Attorney Phil Archer.
 

Read our live Twitter feed from the gathering: 

 

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