The State Attorney’s Office hosted a joint press conference to announce a joint task force nabbed 27 accused drug traffickers and their associates in Southwest Florida in operation “WOOT-DE-WOOT”.
Along with the arrests, approximately two pounds of Fentanyl, more than 1,000 grams of cocaine, almost $200,000 of cocaine, and many more drugs, along with
$146,037 in cash was also seized.
The investigation initially began in Cape Coral focusing on identifying and eradicating major narcotics suppliers and violent offenders there and in Fort Myers.
During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple people who were responsible for the distribution of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA, molly/bath salts, marijuana, oxycodone, and Alprazolam within Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and throughout Lee and Collier Counties.
Narcotic sources of supply were identified as far away as Florida’s east coast.
The arrested suspects are alleged members of drug trafficking organizations which have targeted Southwest Florida, the State Attorney’s Office said. Adding in a statement, “These arrests will severely impact their ability to do business in our community.”
In late 2019, State Attorney Amira Fox created NETFORCE to coordinate a circuit-wide approach to identifying, investigating, and dismantling long-term organized crime, narcotics, racketeering, and money-laundering criminal enterprises.
The following agencies worked together in this successful operation: the Cape Coral Police Department, Fort Myers Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, Naples Police Department, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Marco Island Police Department, ATF, FDLE, DEA, Glades County Sheriff’s Office, and Customs and Border Protection.
Watch the news conference click here.