The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today announced the arrest of 76 individuals and the seizure of more than 28,000 prescription pills in "Operation Pain Killer II," an aggressive two-month initiative targeting Central Florida prescription drug traffickers.
This initiative was a continuation of the cooperative effort by Central Florida law enforcement to combat the epidemic of prescription narcotic abuse and the danger it poses to citizens throughout Florida. The multi-agency operation was conducted Jan. 1, 2011 through March 1, 2011.
The effort focused on traffickers in Orange, Lake, Seminole and Osceola Counties who sold prescription medications they had obtained by visiting "pill mills" throughout Florida. The majority of the individuals were charged with trafficking in Schedule II narcotics. During the course of the operation, law enforcement agencies seized large quantities of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Alprazolam.
Two Orange County pain management clinics, A-Stop Pain Management and Total Medical Express of Orlando, were closed by the Florida Department of Health during the course of the operation due to license violations.
FDLE's Orlando Regional Operations Center coordinated the investigation and partnered with neighboring county drug task forces and multiple other state and federal agencies. Participating agencies included: the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, Seminole City-County Investigative Bureau, Osceola County Investigative Bureau, Lake Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce, Central Florida HIDTA, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Oviedo Police Department, Florida Department of Health, the State Attorney's Offices for the 5th, 7th, 9th and 18th Judicial Circuits.
These statewide operations are nothing new. Florida's government has made it a priority to go after suspected prescription drug trafficking.
I am a criminal defense attorney representing clients in Miami-Dade and Broward. I have handled prescription drug trafficking cases and understand the harsh mandatory sentencing schemes that accompany these charges.
If you or a loved one are facing mandatory prison time due to trafficking in prescription drugs, call me today to discuss your case.