A Lakeland woman is behind bars after federal agents intercepted a shipment of veterinary sedatives from India, uncovering what Polk County detectives describe as a black-market surgical operation for dogs.
The investigation began when U.S. Customs officials in New York flagged a package addressed to a home on North Socrum Loop Road. Inside the box, authorities found eight containers of liquid Xylazine, a powerful sedative often called “tranq” when diverted for illegal street use. In total, the shipment contained 240 grams of the substance.
On February 26, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, served a search warrant at the residence. There, they met 35-year-old Ashley Wimbrow.
According to investigators, Wimbrow admitted she had been performing surgeries on dogs for about a year despite having no medical training. She told deputies she used Xylazine to sedate animals for cosmetic procedures like ear cropping and tail docking. Wimbrow reportedly charged owners between $10 and $100 per session, depending on the size of the dog…