Largest drug bust ever in Florida: 400 pounds of cocaine

**DADOCTOR** · 09-23-2009, 10:38 AM

Largest drug bust ever in Tampa, Florida: 400 pounds of cocaine seized total 9 million dollars

Hillsborough County sheriffs arrested five people in what they are referring to as Hillsborough County’s largest drug bust. Seized was 400 pounds of cocaine, and 4 million dollars in cash. In total, 9 million dollars was seized
The five arrested are:
Nicolas Sandoval-Rivera
DOB 9-10-63
3225 Crutchfield Road, Lakeland
Charges: Trafficking in cocaine (400 grams to 150 kilos)
Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
Juan Gonzalez
DOB 1-29-77
2907 Bloomingdale Avenue, Valrico
Charges: Trafficking in cocaine (400 grams to 150 kilos)
Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine

Victor Navarrete Delacruz
DOB 9-16-84
9410 Grandfield Road, B.
Thonotosassa
Charges: Trafficking in cocaine (400 grams to 150 kilos)
Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine

Irasema Moreno Rojas
DOB 11-24-82
10408 N. Central Avenue, Tampa
Charges: Trafficking in cocaine (400 grams to 150 kilos)
Trafficking in cocaine

Manuel Lopez Ricardo
DOB 10-24-65
4703 Coronet Road, Plant City
Charges: Trafficking in cocaine (400 grams to 150 kilos)
Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine

The drug bust was a co effort of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents. The suspects were running a cocaine smuggling operation that received between three and five shipments of cocaine per week. It is believed that the cocaine shipments were smuggled in spare tires that were transported by car carrier trucks. A car carrier truck was used to transport profits to Texas, the money was hidden in cars.

Detectives, who were performing surveillance, spotted a utility service truck on April 21, 2009. The utility truck was believed to be the truck used to transport the cocaine to a stash house. When the utility truck was surveyed it had four large semi tires. One of those arrested, Ricardo Lopez was spotted following the utility truck. Detectives suspected that the cocaine shipment was being to delivered to Juan Gonzalez’s address located at: 2907 Bloomingdale Avenue, Valrico.

By April 22, 2009, deputies had a home at 3938 Highway 60 under surveillance. Detectives believe that this home was being used as a stash house. At one point, detectives saw suspect Victor De La Cruz step outside of the home and look through binoculars. De La Cruz then returned into the house retrieving a large duffle bag that he placed in his truck. He repeated the actions, for a total of two duffel bags.

Knowing it was time to make their move, deputies conducted a traffic stop and obtained consent to search the truck. The duffle bags contained 1.6 million U.S. dollars. A search warrant was granted and served at the Lopez residence located at 3938 Highway 60, Plant City. The search warrant discovered:

1 currency counting machine
1 handgun
2 SKS assault rifles
2 million dollars in U.S. currency
2 vehicles valued at 50,000

After these items were discovered at the Plant City location, detectives conducted a consent search at the 2907 Bloomingdale Ave location. The following items were located at this search: