Local Authorities Bust Major Drug Trafficking Ring in Coordinated Raids
SARASOTA, Fla. – In a multi-agency operation, law enforcement officials from Sarasota and Manatee Counties successfully dismantled a local drug trafficking organization, leading to a key arrest and the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Special Investigation Section (SIS) and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) spearheaded the investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring operating across both counties. The operation culminated in the execution of two simultaneous search warrants on September 11, 2025, which were served at residences in Bradenton and Sarasota.
The investigation began when SIS detectives conducted an undercover purchase of a trafficking amount of cocaine from Andres R. Gonzalez, a 45-year-old male. This transaction provided the probable cause necessary to obtain search warrants for two properties linked to the organization: 4914 60th Drive East in Bradenton and 3100 Lake Ridge Drive in Sarasota…