OCSO arrests 26 individuals in connection to narcotics trafficking in Winter Garden

WEST ORANGE COUNTY After a nearly six-month-long investigation into the trafficking of narcotics in Winter Garden, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced that it made 26 arrests on Wednesday, March 29. The  26 individuals who were arrested on felony narcotics charges were all from a five-block area in east Winter Garden and parts of unincorporated West Orange County.

“In the areas of question, good people live in those areas and they deserve to maintain their quality of life that is positive for their communities,” said OCSO Sheriff Jerry Demings. “Our goal is to rid their communities of illegal drugs and crime associated with the sales of drugs in those communities.”

The department reported that there are currently warrants out for an additional five individuals who have connections to the investigation.

The West Orange Narcotics Task Force partnered with the Winter Garden Police Department and Ocoee Police Department for the investigation which resulted in 71 arrest warrants and nine search warrants. These warrants resulted in the seizure of 8 firearms, one of which was stolen from within the city of Winter Garden, more than 14 grams of heroin, more than 18 grams of powder cocaine, more than 28 grams of crack cocaine, oxycodone and Xanax.

“The street level sales really impact our neighborhoods, and there are a lot of residents who don’t like it and are always pleading with us to do something with it,” said Winter Garden Police Chief George Brennan. “This task force, this long term investigation that they just did, which took five or six months, is a prime example of the great work they can do.” 

According to OCSO, many of the individuals who were arrested already have an arrest history related to narcotics violations.

“It’s no easy task what these agents were able to do, investigating to make these arrests,” said Capt. Carlos Espinosa, commander of the West Orange Narcotics Task Force. “That is a very tight-knit community…they know each other and they’re usually very careful who they sell drugs to. It’s very hard to catch them. Hopefully this time some of them will get better punishments.”

The department also clarified that the individuals who were arrested were not part of a drug ring, but individual dealers.

“They’re well known in the community,” Demings said. “This is how many of them choose to make a living and what we’re saying to all of them is that if you choose to make a living in this manner, we’re coming after you.”

The goal, Demings said, is to make sure that those involved in the buying and selling of narcotics have no place to deal in West Orange County.

“They’re out there to get rich quick selling narcotics,” he said. “They don’t look at the devastation it has on families and individuals with their addictions. In order to support drug habits, individuals get involved in other types of crime…in which our innocent citizens are preyed upon. So this has a far-reaching rippling effect as we dismantle a drug-trafficking organization.”

The 26 individuals who were arrested face a variety of charges, including the sale and delivery of cocaine, the sale and delivery of oxycodone, the sale and delivery of Xanax and the sale and delivery of cannabis.

“It was through collaborative efforts that we were able to get these offenders off our streets,” Demings said.

Contact Brittany Gaines at [email protected]