Cocaine, Meth, $15K Seized In Palmetto Investigation: Manatee Sheriff

PALMETTO, FL — A months-long narcotics investigation led to the arrest of a 26-year-old Palmetto man after detectives seized more than 2.9 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and more than $15,000 in cash from a residence, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Eric Tovar-Aviles was arrested Tuesday after the MCSO SWAT team assisted detectives in executing a search warrant at a home in the 400 block of 39th Street East in Palmetto.

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Undercover detectives purchased about 22 grams of powder cocaine and 33 grams of methamphetamine from Tovar-Aviles during the investigation, including a trafficking amount of methamphetamine, the sheriff's office said.

Detectives obtained the search warrant after he repeatedly identified the residence as his home. He was the only person inside and was arrested without incident.

A search of the property uncovered about 1,230.6 grams of methamphetamine and 113.4 grams of cocaine, with an estimated combined street value of $33,684, the sheriff's office said. Detectives also seized more than $15,000 in cash.

Tovar-Aviles faces charges of sale of methamphetamine, two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine and violation of probation.

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