CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Citrus County deputies worked with multiple other agencies to seize drugs, guns and cash in what they called the "largest fentanyl seizure in history" for the sheriff's office.
Law enforcement received information about a drug trafficking operation spanning multiple counties back in February. Citrus deputies teamed up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office to figure out how to dismantle the organization, according to a news release.
After seven months of conducting surveillance, going undercover and investigating, a search warrant was executed on Thursday on a home in Homosassa and two other locations in Pasco County.
Law enforcement found over 13 pounds of fentanyl, nearly 150 grams of methamphetamine, 22 guns, three of which were stolen, and $10,808 in cash at the Homosassa house.
"Enough fentanyl to kill over three million people has been taken off the streets in this one operation," Sheriff Mike Prendergast said in a statement.
Detectives said the fentanyl was in several forms such as pressed "bricks" stamped with the organization's trademark and thousands of pills stamped to look like prescription opioids like oxycodone.
Citrus deputies pointed to a DEA public safety alert warning people that six out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
"Any person who buys prescription pills other than at a legitimate pharmacy may unknowingly be getting a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl," the release read.
The overall street value of the narcotics taken is about $735,000. Deputies said this is still an open investigation and the names and addresses of the suspects will not be released at this time.