LARGO, Fla. — Authorities in Pinellas County announced the arrest of nearly two dozen people over charges related to drug trafficking and dog fighting.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and St. Petersburg Police announced a crackdown on the crimes impacting multiple counties in the Tampa Bay Area.
Dubbed "Operation Snow Cap," Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said it's an investigation beginning last summer into drugs being distributed throughout the area.
Deputies say they recently seized drugs, including more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 20 pounds of cocaine, at a stash house found in an apartment in Largo on U.S. 19 and Roosevelt Boulevard.
More than $50,000 in cash, three guns and 11 pounds of marijuana were also found.
The drugs were reportedly being moved around from Airbnbs throughout Pinellas County. Deliveries were being made to a Brandon home with a source from California, according to the sheriff's offie.
Gualtieri said the prices for the drugs being sold are low compared to the past, meaning there's too much supply and demand going around. He believes more arrests will be made in relation to this recent bust.
"To the people that are out there that are engaged in this, look over your shoulder, because we've got many investigations just like this that are in the pipeline," Gualtieri said.
Over the course of the year, Gualtieri said the suspects brought almost 500 pounds of cocaine and 660 pounds of meth into Florida. All of that is worth more than $4 million.
The drugs are connected to illegal activities like a recent dog fighting ring that was busted, St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway said.
Dubbed "Operation Pedigree," a total of 111 dogs were rescued and are now in the process of rehabilitation with the hope that they may be adopted someday.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is involved in the care of the dogs and supporting the criminal investigation. They have to gather forensic evidence that proves dog fighting, injuries, and more. Right now, they're working to get legal ownership.
Meanwhile, these dogs will be taken care of and determined if they can be adopted. However, the sad reality is some will have to be put down.
Elizabeth Brandley with the ASPCA Investigations Department said, "So unfortunately, it's always a possibility [they're put down], honestly, in any animal cruelty case or animal fighting case, our priority right now is to support the criminal investigation, and it's really way too early to know what the outcomes of these dogs are going to be."
The bust also exposed human trafficking, in which six people were rescued.
