Florida - For the second time in less than a month, Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies have conducted a massive drug bust.
It took nearly a dozen men more than 15 minutes, but hand over hand, law enforcement officers unloaded more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana.
It's stacks of evidence authorities can use against a local drug smuggling ring.
"It’s huge,” said Lt. James Clark from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. “We've knocked out 40 people that are part of an organization. Not street level dealers. We've knocked out 40 people that are part of the problem in the Central Florida drug trafficking trade."
Officials said all of the marijuana was stashed inside an actual working tar pot. On the outside, you can see the stain and grime on the sides, but look closer and you can see a hidden compartment.
The bust is much bigger than just what’s in the tar pot. Sheriff’s deputies said the drugs belonged to a local drug dealing operation with national ties.
Forty people are accused of bringing in tons of marijuana and then selling it locally.
"It’s suspected that this organization is bigger than what we even thought,” Lt. Clark said. “This is evidence of it, and we suspect there is probably more marijuana out there for us to get our hands on."
Tracking the rest of the drugs down is just the beginning. Authorities said while they hope to catch the rest of the people involved with these drugs, the next big challenge will be keeping replacement drug dealers out.
“We don't know what ties they have as far as other people wanting to step up, so we are not letting our guard down and we are going to run this as far as we can run it," Lt. Clark said.
Seminole County said while no additional arrests were made with this bust, they believe they already have the people responsible in custody.
Drug dealers used mustard, axle grease and other substances to mask the smell of the marijuana.
News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: 13 News
Author: Nick VinZant
Contact: Central Florida News 13 -
Copyright: 2010 CF News 13
Website: $1 Million Worth Of Marijuana Seized In Drug Bust - Central Florida News 13
It took nearly a dozen men more than 15 minutes, but hand over hand, law enforcement officers unloaded more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana.
It's stacks of evidence authorities can use against a local drug smuggling ring.
"It’s huge,” said Lt. James Clark from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. “We've knocked out 40 people that are part of an organization. Not street level dealers. We've knocked out 40 people that are part of the problem in the Central Florida drug trafficking trade."
Officials said all of the marijuana was stashed inside an actual working tar pot. On the outside, you can see the stain and grime on the sides, but look closer and you can see a hidden compartment.
The bust is much bigger than just what’s in the tar pot. Sheriff’s deputies said the drugs belonged to a local drug dealing operation with national ties.
Forty people are accused of bringing in tons of marijuana and then selling it locally.
"It’s suspected that this organization is bigger than what we even thought,” Lt. Clark said. “This is evidence of it, and we suspect there is probably more marijuana out there for us to get our hands on."
Tracking the rest of the drugs down is just the beginning. Authorities said while they hope to catch the rest of the people involved with these drugs, the next big challenge will be keeping replacement drug dealers out.
“We don't know what ties they have as far as other people wanting to step up, so we are not letting our guard down and we are going to run this as far as we can run it," Lt. Clark said.
Seminole County said while no additional arrests were made with this bust, they believe they already have the people responsible in custody.
Drug dealers used mustard, axle grease and other substances to mask the smell of the marijuana.
News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: 13 News
Author: Nick VinZant
Contact: Central Florida News 13 -
Copyright: 2010 CF News 13
Website: $1 Million Worth Of Marijuana Seized In Drug Bust - Central Florida News 13
