Task Force Makes 44 Arrests and Seizes $1.4 Million in Methaphetamines

Lake Wales police joined officers from Bartow, Haines City and the Polk County Sheriff's Department as part of the Polk County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigation that resulted in 44 arrests, three warrants and the seizure of 50 pounds of methamphetamines with a street value of $1.4 million. The task force also seized $50,000 in U.S. currency and assets along with four firearms.

According to the sheriff's department, the suspects were collectively charged with 85 felonies and 50 misdemeanors. They've been previously arrested and charged with a total of 392 felonies and 325 misdemeanors and previously convicted of a total of 94 felonies and 142 misdemeanors.

The Task Force worked in conjunction with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol and the office of State Attorney Brian Haas of the 10th Judicial Circuit.

The investigation began in 2018 and detectives made the first six arrests this year on March 1, followed by 14 on April 22 and another 23 arrested during the undercover operation.

"These drug traffickers and drug dealers are what some in the Florida legislature refer to as 'low-level, non-violent drug offenders.' Some politicians want to release drug traffickers early from prison, lower their sentences, or avoid putting them in prison all together," said Sheriff Grady Judd. "But make no mistake: everything about Meth is violent and destructive. It destroys lives, ruins families, and kills people. Meth equals death. If meth doesn't kill you outright, it relentlessly kills you over time."

According to Dr. Stephen Nelson, Medical Examiner for the 10th District, in 2017, there were 68 Meth-related deaths for the year – of those, 50 deaths were directly caused by Meth (the other 18 deaths occurred when Meth was present in the deceased person's system).

According to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, in 2017, 464 people died in Florida as a direct result of Methamphetamines, an increase of 42 percent from 2016; and an additional 394 deceased persons had Meth present in their system, an increase of 38 percent from 2016.

"These drug dealers have blood on their hands. They make money off of the misery of others. They use violence as a means to enforce their business rules. Everything about what they do is violent to our communities and our quality of life," Judd said. "The next time a politician tells you that that trafficking in meth, heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other illegal street drugs is non-violent, low-level crime, tell them they are not operating in the realm of reality."

The sheriff's office said the investigation began when they received information that 45-year-old Acencion Zarate-Najera was running an illegal drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of Meth throughout the southern United States.

Detectives learned that the Meth was being brought in from Mexico to California, and then delivered to Polk County and other areas, such as Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina.

On April 10, 2019, detectives arrested Acencion Zarate-Najera, DOB 08/15/1973, and charged him with conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1), conspiracy to traffic in heroin (F-1), illegal use of a two-way communication device (F-3), and no valid DL (M-2). He's being held on $505,250 bond, and is on an ICE hold.

Zarate-Najera's trafficking in heroin charge stems from information received by PCSO that he facilitated the delivery of 4 kilos of heroin to South Carolina (street value of $400,000). The S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted PCSO. His criminal history includes 1 prior felony and 6 prior misdemeanors, including previous arrests for trafficking in cocaine, possession of meth and marijuana, driving without a license, battery, and DUI.

On March 1, 2019, PCSO detectives began surveillance on five of Zarate-Najera's associates. PCSO detectives and FDLE agents observed the five suspects meeting at a restaurant in Haines City, where they facilitated the delivery of an SUV. The detectives and agents followed the SUV to a residence on 7th Street North in Haines City, and executed a search warrant, during which they seized 24 pounds of Meth that was concealed inside the SUV, along with $4,900 in U.S. currency.

Also on March 1, 2019, a PCSO undercover detective arranged to purchase 2 kilograms of Meth for $20,000 from George Lopez at Lopez's home in Polk City. Lopez distributes Meth for Acencion Zarate-Najera. The undercover detective had previously purchased Meth from Lopez. After the transaction, detectives placed Lopez under arrest, and located a handgun in his waistband. They also seized $8,500 in U.S. currency, marijuana, and a second handgun. In all, detectives seized approximately 6.8 pounds of Meth from Lopez.

Lopez's live-in girlfriend, Cira Isabel Zarate-Bermudez, is the daughter of Acencion Zarate-Najera. She was seen delivering payments to her father for illegal drug activities, and participated in Meth sales with her boyfriend.

Another principal in the organization, Marco Antonio Orozco-Ascencio, was deported to Mexico in November 2018. In February 2019, detectives learned he was facilitating large-scale Meth transactions from Mexico, and arranging meetings between George Lopez and Otoniel Valdez-Mendoza. Detectives obtained a warrant for Marco's arrest.

For more information and a list of those arrested, go online to http://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/polk-county-news/2019/04/24/47-suspects-charged-during-meth-trafficking-investigation-operation-meth-death-peddlers