POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Nearly a dozen people were arrested as part of multi-agency investigations into two separate drug trafficking organizations, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Grady Judd held a press conference on Tuesday saying the two investigations resulted in the arrest of 10 men and 1 woman who were involved in trafficking multiple kilos of fentanyl and cocaine.
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Law enforcement officials said a total of 14 kilos of cocaine and 3.5 kilos of bulk fentanyl and fentanyl pills were seized, along with four firearms, a vehicle, and $12,985 in U.S. currency.
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According to the sheriff’s office, the following agencies participated in the investigation: Central Florida High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Winter Haven Police Department, 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Attorney General’s Office, FBI, DEA, and the Department of Justice.
The first investigation dubbed “Espinosa and Romero Central Florida Drug Trafficking Organization” resulted in the arrests of five men.
Deputies said 56-year-old Pedro Luis “Bemba” Romero of Kissimmee 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.
According to a news release, detectives arranged to buy a kilo of cocaine from Romero in Haines City in November. Deputies said Romero brought his drug supplier, 44-year-old Maximo Espinosa of Kissimmee, with him to the drug transaction.
Deputies said an investigation revealed that Espinosa was operating a drug trafficking organization between the northeast U.S., South Florida, Puerto Rico and Mexico that trafficked kilo amounts of cocaine and fentanyl. Espinosa had previously been arrested federally for armed trafficking in heroin, according to law enforcement officials.
According to the release, undercover detectives set up several other transactions to purchase cocaine and fentanyl, including one in Haines City on Jan. 2. Espinosa showed the detective 10 kilos of cocaine and two kilos of fentanyl in the trunk of his car.
Deputies said Espinosa’s contacts would travel to Polk County to provide the fentanyl.
Law enforcement officials said they were able to arrest Espinosa and two others who were in a separate vehicle involved in the drug transaction. Investigators identified the two fentanyl suppliers as 35-year-old Pedro Mejia of West Palm Beach, and 22-year-old Pedro Olivares of Wimauma.
In addition, during the arrests, a white BMW fled the scene, striking one of the undercover deputies in the leg. Officials were able to track down the vehicle and arrest 34-year-old Omar Veloz of West Palm Beach. Detectives said that Veloz and Mejia were on federal probation for trafficking narcotics.
Law enforcement said they were able to arrest Espinosa and two others who were in a separate vehicle involved in the drug transaction.
Romero was later arrested by FDLE and booked into the Polk County Jail.
According to the release, 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.
“We are all working together to fight fentanyl, which is killing people by the thousands in the US because of drug overdoses,” Judd said. “These drug traffickers are destroying lives, families and communities. These drugs go hand-in-hand with violence and misery in our communities.”
Deputies said the second investigation called the “Colon-Colon Drug Trafficking Organization” resulted in the arrests of five men and one woman on Dec. 17 who are accused of being part of a drug trafficking organization known to sell trafficking amounts of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
According to the release, investigators learned in August that a man named Luis Salcedo-Rodriguez aka “Flaco” was linked with drug trafficking in Polk County.
Detectives said they met with Salcedo-Rodriguez who offered to sell kilos of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to undercover detectives.
During the investigation, officials said they learned the source of supply of the cocaine offered by Salcedo-Rodriguez was Roosevelt Colon-Colon of Poinciana.
“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,” the release read in part.
Deputies said they pulled over all of the vehicles and arrested all persons involved, except for the child.
According to the release, more than 2 kilos of cocaine were obtained during the investigation 2,198.91 grams. In addition, $8,535 in U.S. currency and two firearms were seized during the arrest.
Deputies said those arrested face the following charges:
Luis “Flaco” Salcedo-Rodriguez faces charges of trafficking in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Roosevelt Colon faces charges of armed trafficking in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Julio Arroyo Rodriguez faces charges of armed trafficking in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Miguel Berdecia faces charges of trafficking in cocaine.
No charges were listed for Jazmine Colon.
“Fentanyl kills people DRT,” Judd said. “Dead right there, right now, and it concerns us all.”
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