19 suspected drug traffickers arrested in joint law enforcement operation in northwest Florida

NORTHWEST FLORIDA (WKRG) – 19 suspected drug dealers in Fort Walton Beach were arrested following a joint operation by law enforcement agencies in Northwest Florida.

“Together, we are taking criminals off the streets and seizing massive amounts of deadly fentanyl and other deadly drugs,” said Vaden Pollard, deputy commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

In addition to drug trafficking, some suspects are also accused of manslaughter because the drugs led to the death of a person by overdose.

The operation is part of Florida’s SAFE program, the state’s support for fentanyl eradication. The program began in 2023.

“Results from the first year of SAFE cases include Florida law enforcement seizing more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl, 55 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 30,000 fentanyl pills, 72 illegal firearms, and confiscating more than $463,000 from the illegal drug trade,” Pollard said.

The SAFE program supports law enforcement in combating a problem that significantly impacts Northwest Florida.

“Here in Northwest Florida, we have a per capita overdose death rate that is twice the national average,” said Chris Williams, FDLE special agent in charge. “I’ll say it again: twice the national average.”

“Fentanyl traffickers don’t care about our communities or the devastating impact on families affected by this terrible drug,” Pollard said. “We do.”

The FDLE said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges for murder and drug offenses are pending.