Seminole sheriff announces 20 arrests
Multiagency probe uncovered large drug, weapons ring
The arrest of a two-time convicted felon led to a six-month, multiagency investigation that uncovered a large-scale drug and weapons trafficking ring that has resulted in 20 arrests with more to come, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma announced Tuesday.
Lemma said the investigation also thwarted a murder-for-hire plot and a drone delivery of drugs into a prison.
“The scale of this investigation exemplifies the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies and underscores our commitment to tackling illicit narcotics on our streets, especially fentanyl and the associated organized crime,” he said. He credited the State Attorney’s Office for “crucial support.”
Lemma said Seminole’s CityCounty Investigation Bureau uncovered an operation responsible for distributing a range of illegal drugs including cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and a stimulant known by the street name “molly” as well as smuggling marijuana into the state. The crime ring also sold high-powered firearms including machine guns.
The bureau is a task force of agents from the Sheriff ’s Office and police departments of Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Longwood and Sanford.
The investigation took place in phases with undercover agents purchasing drugs and firearms from Floyd Aikens, the convicted felon, and his associates, the Sheriff ’s Office said in a news release.
The first phase, dubbed “Operation Black Ice,” included 24 undercover drug buys, totaling more than $160,000, netting four pounds of fentanyl, three pounds of heroin, five pounds of methamphetamine, other drugs and 10 firearms.
More than 40 pounds of cocaine and 13 other firearms were seized from a residence linked to the investigation. Agents also intercepted a drone operation aimed at smuggling contraband into a state correctional facility in North Florida.
According to the news release, agents arrested a UPS distribution manager who intercepted packages of drugs with fake addresses then personally delivered them to individuals involved with the investigation.
The second phase rounded up suspects in Seminole and Orange counties involving multiple law enforcement agencies, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.