Polk Sheriff Grady Judd announces largest fentanyl bust in county history
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Grady Judd announced Friday four people have been arrested for holding over 14 kilograms of fentanyl worth $3.5 million, making it the largest bust in the county’s history.
“Fentanyl is an enormous threat to Americans today. In addition to the tens of thousands who are killed by fentanyl-related drug overdoses each year, there is also great damage done to families and communities,” Judd said. “I am confident that with the arrests and seizures made during this investigation, many lives have been saved in Polk County and beyond, but more work needs to be done at the southern border to cut-off the supply into the United States.”
According to the release, the investigation began in August 2023 by detectives with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA. The officers specifically were looking into a drug trafficking organization out of Mexico specializing in fentanyl.
Early in its investigation, two kilograms of fentanyl were delivered from a trafficker based in Mexico to detectives. Afterwards, an additional second delivery was coordinated for a in-person transaction at a motel in Lakeland for one kilogram of fentanyl on April 5.
With the transaction made, another delivery was initiated; the trafficking organization agreed to send 11 more kilograms of fentanyl to Polk County, authorities said.
On April 22, the four suspects reportedly arrived at a predetermined location in Polk County to deliver fentanyl before being arrested. Detectives also seized two vehicles used by the drug traffickers holding $5,461.
The HIDTA also received assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Border Patrol, and the State Attorney’s Office 10th Judicial Circuit in its investigation.
“Florida law enforcement continues to fight the death and destruction emanating from Biden’s border crisis. The latest, the largest fentanyl bust in Polk County history—enough of this deadly poison to kill seven million Floridians,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said.
“These interdiction efforts save lives and while we continue to do everything we can here in Florida to stop the opioid crisis, the skyrocketing national overdose death toll will not slow down until Biden stops empowering the Mexican drug cartels and closes the border,” Moody continued.
The four suspects charged were Maria Machuca-Alderete, Sergio Garcia, Pedro Rodriguez-Correa, and Maria Guadalupe-Garcia. A unnamed fifth individual also is wanted by the county.
Among her charges, Machua-Alderete was arrested for trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, all felonies. She also was arrested on four felony counts for resisting an officer with violence and four felony counts for battery on a law enforcement officer.
In addition, Machua-Alderete was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. She also is in the United States illegally and has a hold placed on her by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Sergio Garcia was arrested for trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs, both felonies. He also was arrested for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Among his charges, Pedro Rodriguez-Correa was arrested for trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, all felonies. He also was arrested for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Rodriguez-Correa also is in the U.S. illegally and has a detainer placed on him by ICE, authorities said.
Guadalupe-Garcia was arrested for trafficking of fentanyl over 28 grams and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs, both felonies. She also was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
The fifth wanted suspect is being charged with trafficking of fentanyl over 28 grams and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs, both felonies. They also are being charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
