10 Kilos Of Fentanyl Seized In Polk County, 3 Men Face Charges

POLK COUNTY, FL — Three men are facing drug trafficking charges after authorities seized $2.5 million worth of fentanyl and accused them of bringing it into the state and selling it, according to police.

In a news release, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said the three men were charged with trafficking fentanyl after a multi-agency investigation revealed they assisted in bringing the drug into the United States from Sinaloa, Mexico.

According to police, the fentanyl was initially sent to Compton, California, by the Sinaloa Cartel before it was transported to Polk County.

The following men were charged, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd:

• Juan Manuel Gutierrez Medina, 55, of Riverview.
• Ruperto Rocha, 65, of Wimauma.
• Juan Manuel Contreras Gutierrez, 25, of Riverview.

Judd said authorities seized about 10 kilograms of fentanyl in addition to the arrests.

"10 kilograms is enough fentanyl to kill 5 million people if taken in overdose amounts," Judd said in a statement. "These drugs are extremely dangerous, and the people bringing them across an unsecure border are evil."

According to police, undercover Polk County deputies and Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents made contact with Medina in September and arranged to purchase large quantities of fentanyl from him.

During the investigation, authorities said detectives bought fentanyl from all three men.

Authorities said at one point during the investigation, Medina drove to Compton. He was arrested in Suwanee County on Oct. 18 as he returned to the state.

According to the sheriff's office, Gutierrez delivered six kilograms of fentanyl to detectives on Oct. 20. Five days later, authorities arranged to meet with him again in Riverview, where they arrested him.

Detectives arrested Rocha on Oct. 12, police said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed holds on Medina and Gutierrez, who were both in the country illegally, police said. Rocha's resident status is unknown.