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Police: Multiple shootings lead to drug ring bust, crosses multiple county lines

by Skyler Shepard

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The police department said throughout the long-term investigation, the task force completed more than 130 warrants and 130 subpoenas. During the last two weeks the following was seized during the execution of six search warrants and 26 arrests. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
The police department said throughout the long-term investigation, the task force completed more than 130 warrants and 130 subpoenas. During the last two weeks the following was seized during the execution of six search warrants and 26 arrests. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
The police department said throughout the long-term investigation, the task force completed more than 130 warrants and 130 subpoenas. During the last two weeks the following was seized during the execution of six search warrants and 26 arrests. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
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The police department said throughout the long-term investigation, the task force completed more than 130 warrants and 130 subpoenas. During the last two weeks the following was seized during the execution of six search warrants and 26 arrests. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
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ST. PETERSURG, Fla. (CBS12) — After 10 months, multiple law enforcement agencies busted a major drug ring that spanned across Central Florida.

The St. Petersburg Police Department, Chief Anthony Holloway, announced the results of the investigation on Tuesday. He said an investigation began in January 2022 regarding gun violence throughout the city. Through more digging, investigators said they established a link between shootings and a major drug ring.

Investigators said they began Operation Coquina Key to investigate several suspects trafficking in large quantities of marijuana and other drugs. More than a dozen National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) reports linked a group to shootings throughout Pinellas County alone.

With the gang's extensive ties to multiple regions throughout Central Florida, Chief Holloway said the police department brought in local, state and federal agencies to pool resources.

See also: Lake Worth man used social media to get sexual exploitation material from teen girl

The police department said throughout the long-term investigation, the task force completed more than 130 warrants and 130 subpoenas. During the last two weeks the following was seized during the execution of six search warrants and 26 arrests.

A list was compiled of the items seized:

  • Approximately 1800 lbs. of marijuana (approx. $3 million street value)
  • 15 guns (three of them were stolen)
  • $360,000 cash
  • 7 lbs. of liquid promethazine (codeine, 25-year min. mandatory sentence)
  • 42 grams of crack cocaine
  • 40 grams of powder cocaine
  • 5 grams of methamphetamine
  • 18 grams of heroin/fentanyl mix
  • 252 BU Crystals (mis-sold as Ecstasy or Molly)
  • 1054 grams of THC wax
  • 2 stolen vehicles
  • 6 other vehicles

“This violent drug ring operated throughout the entire region and law enforcement agencies were more effective working together to bring it down,” said Chief Holloway.

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