Polk County Sheriff Announces Largest Seizure Of Fentanyl From Mexico

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office

POLK COUNTY, Florida - An alleged Mexican drug trafficking organization operating in several states, including Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, was disrupted by a multi-agency investigation led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. 

The results of the investigation were the arrests of four people, and the seizure of fourteen kilograms of fentanyl,two vehicles used by the alleged drug traffickers, and $5,461.00 in cash. A fifth person is still wanted. 

The defendants face a litany of charges, including trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, maintaining vehicles for drug trafficking, resisting officers, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Investigators say that Maria Machuca-Alderete and Pedro Rodriguez-Correa are in the United States illegally.

“Fentanyl is an enormous threat to Americans today. In addition to the tens of thousands who are killed by fentanyl-related drug overdoses each year, there is also great damage done to families and communities," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. 

"I am confident that with the arrests and seizures made during this investigation, many lives have been saved in Polk County and beyond, but more work needs to be done at the southern border to cut-off the supply into the United States.”

Starting in August of 2023, members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began an investigation of a drug trafficking organization out of Mexico that was specializing in fentanyl. The HIDTA Task Force received assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, The United States Border Patrol, and the State Attorney's Office 10th Judicial Circuit. 

The investigation began in August 2023 by members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force in collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Border Patrol, and the State Attorney's Office 10th Judicial Circuit.

Initial phases of the operation saw the interception of two kilograms of fentanyl in transit from Mexico to detectives. Subsequently, a face-to-face transaction for one kilogram of fentanyl was arranged at a motel in Lakeland on April 5, 2024, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.

The success of this transaction prompted the trafficking organization to agree to ship an additional eleven kilograms of fentanyl to Polk County. 

On April 22, 2024, Maria Machuca-Alderete, Maria Guadalupe-Garcia, Sergio Garcia, and Pedro Rodriguez-Correa were arrested upon arriving at a predetermined location to allegedly deliver the illicit substances.

Investigators say that Rodriguez-Correa, the driver for the group, brought a six-year old boy along for the delivery. Florida Department of Children & Families responded to the scene and took custody of the child.