TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33 people in a “large-scale drug trafficking network responsible for distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
HCSO said the group had ties to a drug trafficking network in Puerto Rico and worked to smuggle the drugs into Florida, mostly through Orlando, where they were distributed to Hillsborough County and other areas.
Popular Florida state park will require reservations to help manage crowds
Two brothers who are currently incarcerated, Fernando Elias Rosario Torres, 32, and Elias Xavier Rosario Torres, 26, coordinated the distribution of drugs from jail using phones that were smuggled in. The sheriff’s office said their parents, Elias Rosario Negron, 59, and Enid Torres Berrios, 59, were also involved in the operation.
“This wasn’t just a few people selling drugs. This was a network, a business built on death, addiction, and illegal profit,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more proud of our detectives for their relentless dedication and hard work. This investigation was a huge win, not just for our team but for our entire community. Let this be a warning: If you are trafficking drugs in Hillsborough County, we will find you, and you will go to jail.”
33 people were arrested, mostly on drug trafficking charges. 11 suspects were charged with RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) offenses, “highlighting the structured and organized nature of the criminal enterprise.”…