Grady Judd announces ‘largest seizure of fentanyl in Polk County history’
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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a news conference Friday to announce several arrests in an international fentanyl trafficking investigation.
The alleged traffickers brought the drug from Mexico to several states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
PCSO called the operation “the largest seizure of fentanyl in Polk County history.”
Judd was joined by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, State Attorney Brian Haas of the 10th Judicial Circuit and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Lee Massie.
The investigation began in August 2023. In one undercover operation, detectives seized 11 kilograms of fentanyl, which is equivalent to 24 pounds.
In two encounters early in the investigation, detectives were sold three kilos of fentanyl. The traffickers agreed to ship even more fentanyl to the county, according to PCSO. Detectives offered to pay $42,000 for them to bring drugs to Eagle Lake, Florida.
On April 22, Sergio Garcia, 52, a 20-year retired military veteran, drove from Mexico to Florida with his wife, Maria Guadalupe-Garcia, 48. The couple, along with Maria Machuca-Alderete, 29 and Pedro Rodriguez-Correa, 31, were accused of showing up to a pre-determined location, where they met with undercover Polk County deputies for the transaction.
The four suspects were arrested. In addition to the evidence, which included fentanyl hidden in a box of Huggies diapers, detectives seized two vehicles and $5,461.00 in cash. A fifth person is wanted.
Rodriguez-Correa brought a 6-year-old child along with them to the drug delivery, PCSO said. The Florida Department of Children and Families was called in to take custody of them.
The suspects were charged with the following offenses:
Maria Guadalupe-Garcia: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, maintain vehicle to traffic drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sergio Garcia: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, maintain vehicle to traffic drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Maria Machuca-Alderete: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, maintain vehicle to traffic drugs, resist officer with violence, battery on law enforcement officer, unlawful use two-way communication device, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was placed under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold because she is in the country unlawfully.
Pedro Rodriguez-Correa trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, unlawful use two-way communication device, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also placed under an ICE hold because he is in the country unlawfully.
The officials blame the influx of fentanyl on the federal government’s immigration policy, calling on President Joe Biden to act. Maria Machuca-Alderete, according to Judd, was turned away at the border “several times” before travelling to Polk County.
“Fentanyl is an enormous threat to Americans today. In addition to the tens of thousands who are killed by fentanyl-related drug overdoses each year, there is also great damage done to families and communities,” Judd said. “I am confident that with the arrests and seizures made during this investigation, many lives have been saved in Polk County and beyond, but more work needs to be done at the southern border to cut-off the supply into the United States.”
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