$12.8M In Drugs Seized From Smugglers Based In Winter Haven: Sheriff

POLK COUNTY, FL — A two-year investigation into a drug smuggling operation based in Winter Haven has been shut down following the largest wiretap investigation in the history of Polk County.

In all, law enforcement agencies recovered $12.8 million in drugs and seized $235,000 in cash, $36,000 in gold jewelry and 49 firearms, with nearly 90 arrests made.

During a news conference hosted by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Friday morning, Grady described baggage filled to the brim with drugs checked through Los Angeles International Airport and flown on domestic planes to Orlando International Airport where the drugs were then distributed throughout Central Florida.

Grady said the operation, nicknamed Operation Flying Ice, involved three separate drug-smuggling rings with the Jefferson family of Winter Haven as the ring leaders, headed by Demarcus Terrell Jefferson, 32, whose 25-year-old brother died of a drug overdose during the investigation.

Grady said the Jefferson family, which also included a third brother, Antonio Deandre Jefferson, 31, coordinated the smuggling of large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana from Mexico to Los Angeles.

The drugs were then smuggled onto domestic airlines to Memphis and Orlando, and shipped by ground to Polk County, according to the sheriff.

On a single day, law enforcement confiscated six suitcases filled with 98 pounds of methamphetamine and 48 pounds of marijuana, Grady said.

"There needs to be a deep dive into the baggage handlers at LAX," he said. "The smugglers didn't even bother to throw a pair of underwear in the suitcases."

The investigation began in September 2020 after the Winter Haven Police, headed by Chief David Brennan, received a tip that a Winter Haven family (the Jeffersons) were dealing drugs.

As the investigation unfolded and law enforcement became aware that the family was part of an international smuggling operation, the Polk sheriff's office, Polk State Attorney Brian Haas and Brennan brought in state and federal authorities who set up 11 wiretaps starting in February.

Detectives served 14 search warrants in Auburndale, Davenport, Polk City, Lake Wales, Winter Haven and Riverview as well as in Fresno, California. The result was the arrest of 85 people charged with 355 felonies and 93 misdemeanors.

Grady said these 85 people had already been arrested on 690 felony charges and convicted on 194 felonies.

During the operation, law enforcement confiscated 682 pounds of methamphetamines and 6.8 ounces of fentanyl. Since 2 milligrams of fentanyl is deadly, Grady said that 6.8 ounces could have killed up to 96,000 people.

“I’m so very proud of our detectives and the agents and law enforcement officers who partnered with us to get these dangerous drugs and felons off the street," Grady said. "This is the single largest seizure of drugs and arrests made in the history of Polk County during an undercover wiretap investigation. We will continue to follow up leads and make more arrests, so those who think they got away from us, think again.”

More than 13 law enforcement agencies were involved including the Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney Brian Haas of the 10th Judicial Circuit, the U.S Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Tampa International Airport, Winter Haven and Orlando police, the Osceola County and St. Lucie sheriff's offices along with the Fresno police in California and the Shelby County sheriff's office in Tennessee.

Illegal drugs, firearms and currency seized:

• 268 pounds of methamphetamine / 112,563 grams ($9,725,040 street value)
• 31 pounds of cocaine / 14,055.17 grams ($1,405,337 street value)
• 180 pounds of cannabis / 81,417.89 grams ($1,628,357 street value)
• 3.4 pounds of MDMA (Ecstasy) / 1,692.02 grams ($84,601 street value)
• 6.8 ounces of fentanyl / 192.77 grams ($26,880 street value)
• 68 alprazolam (Xanax) pills
• 173 oxycodone pills
• 49 firearms
• 3 non-active grenades
• 2 bulletproof vests
• 1 stolen motorcycle
• $235,000 cash