2023

~ Florida strike force continues to prove commitment to law and order state ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Last week Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Florida National Guard Counterdrug Taskforce, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) participated in a weeklong operation in Columbia County.

The strike force was formed at the direction of Governor DeSantis to interdict human smuggling and human trafficking and to seize illegal weapons transported through the State. Through the collaborative effort of all involved, the strike force conducted 286 traffic stops resulting in the following:

33 Misdemeanor Charges        3 Vehicles Seized
350 Felony Charges                    4 Guns Recovered
2 Firearm Charges                      Over 1,500 grams of Fentanyl
8 Undocumented Aliens          Over 41 grams of Cocaine
23 Drug Charges                         Over 1,000 grams of Heroin
42 Total Arrests                           Almost 4,000 grams of Marijuana
Recovery of almost $9,000     Over 150 grams of Methamphetamine

“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to battling the illicit flow of deadly drugs entering our state and damaging our communities,” said FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. “We will always work to disable the criminal cartels that take advantage of the open border. Thanks to Governor DeSantis we are empowered to fight back full force, and these interdiction operations are just one way we continue to keep Floridians safe and hold criminals accountable.”

“This operation and others taking place in Florida and Texas aim at keeping narcotics, weapons, and criminals off our streets and away from our communities,” said FHP Colonel Gary Howze II. “Time and time again, these operations highlight the amount of illegal material transported daily into and throughout our State. We are dedicated to stopping this by aggressively pursuing our mission of providing a safer Florida.”

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said, “These multi-agency interdictions continue to take felons, guns, drugs and unlawful criminals off of our streets and out of Florida’s communities. These successful strike force missions can serve as a role model for other states.”

Operations like this highlight the ongoing multi-agency commitment to preventing dangerous substances like fentanyl from being trafficked into our State. This operation also interdicts human smugglers, undocumented aliens, and illegal weapons through a combined mission to keep Florida safe.

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The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education, and enforcement. Learn more on our website.

The Florida Highway Patrol strives to achieve core values of courtesy, service, and protection. It is FHP’s job to help ensure the safety and welfare of millions of Florida’s residents and visitors every day.

To learn more about FHP or how to become one of Florida’s Finest, visit BeATrooper.com.