POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Sheriff Grady Judd announced Tuesday the largest fentanyl seizure in Polk County history following two major undercover investigations that led to the arrest of eight suspected members of Mexico’s most notorious drug cartels.
Detectives seized a total of 64 pounds of fentanyl — enough to kill an estimated 14.5 million people — as part of operations targeting the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels. Six suspects with ties to Jalisco and two connected to Sinaloa are now in custody, Judd said.
“This is poison, plain and simple,” Sheriff Judd stated during a news conference. “These people are violent, these people want your money, and they don’t care whether or not they take your life.”
The seized fentanyl, valued at $4.5 million, was smuggled into the United States from Mexico and eventually made its way to Polk County, authorities said. Investigators revealed that much of the fentanyl was hidden inside car batteries during transport.
The massive bust was the result of a collaborative effort involving the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Tampa and Phoenix, U.S. Border Patrol, Auburndale Police Department, State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Sheriff Judd praised the teamwork that led to the arrests but warned that the fight against fentanyl is far from over.
“I want you to understand that it’s not over,” Judd said. “We’re going to continue to work together. We’re going to focus on those who traffic drugs throughout the United States.”
The suspects and their charges are as follows:
- Adrian Francisco Munguia: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Regina Lynn Headspeth: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Gloria Trujillo Duque: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Miguel Angel Estrada: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Adalberto Diaz: Two counts of trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Alejandrina Diaz: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Gerardo Valencia Cervantes: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams
Authorities say additional arrests and charges may follow as the investigation continues.
