Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Thursday that prosecutors have charged 49 defendants following a months-long, multi-agency investigation into fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine trafficking organizations operating across Central Florida, according to the Florida Office of the Attorney General.
The investigation, known as Operation Ice Breaker II, resulted in the arrest of 49 defendants accused of participating in drug trafficking networks spanning Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Marion, and Orange counties, according to the Florida Office of the Attorney General. Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional arrests and charges are expected.
Months-Long Investigation Targeted Regional Drug Networks
The investigation was led by the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, the Volusia Bureau of Investigation—a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force led by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office—the Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, with assistance from several additional law enforcement agencies.
According to investigators, the operation began in the fall of 2025 and continued through late June 2026. Detectives used court-authorized pen registers, trap-and-trace orders, wire intercepts, controlled purchases, and physical surveillance to identify what authorities described as mid- and upper-level distribution networks responsible for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other illegal narcotics throughout Central Florida.
On June 30, investigators executed search warrants at multiple locations connected to the organization, recovering illegal narcotics, cash, digital scales, cutting agents, cellular phones, and other evidence, according to prosecutors.
Attorney General: ‘Florida Families Deserve Safe Streets’
Attorney General James Uthmeier praised the coordinated effort among state and local agencies.
“This joint investigation dismantled a criminal organization that pumped deadly fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into Florida communities,” Uthmeier said. “Through the tireless work of Florida’s law enforcement, state attorneys, and our statewide prosecutors, we have arrested 49 traffickers and disrupted these networks. Florida families deserve safe streets free of dangerous drugs, and we will continue holding every member of this organization fully accountable.”
Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza said drug trafficking organizations threaten communities through addiction, violence, and other criminal activity.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood also praised the investigation, saying another group of “drug dealers” had been removed from the streets, while Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young described the operation as evidence of the importance of partnerships between local and state law enforcement agencies.
Three Alleged Leaders Face Major Trafficking Charges
Among those identified by prosecutors as alleged leaders of the trafficking organization are:
- Vetrick Maurice Shavers Jr., charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and multiple fentanyl trafficking offenses carrying mandatory minimum prison sentences.
- Richard Gene Hocker III, charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, fentanyl trafficking, and methamphetamine trafficking.
- Antonio Bejon Lee, charged with multiple counts of trafficking fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, and related offenses.
Authorities said numerous additional defendants face charges ranging from trafficking and conspiracy to firearm offenses, unlawful use of communications devices, and possession with intent to sell or deliver controlled substances.
Fentanyl Remains a Top Public Safety Concern
Florida law enforcement agencies continue to prioritize fentanyl trafficking investigations because of the drug’s role in overdose deaths and organized criminal activity. Officials say investigations like Operation Ice Breaker II are designed to dismantle distribution networks rather than focus solely on street-level dealers.
The latest investigation follows previous large-scale narcotics enforcement efforts carried out under the “Operation Ice Break” name. In December 2025, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office announced Operation Ice Break, a separate multi-jurisdictional investigation that resulted in 14 arrests and 40 felony charges related to fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking.
The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution in coordination with the State Attorney’s Office for the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests or charges could follow as investigators continue reviewing evidence.
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Primary Sources
- Florida Office of the Attorney General – News Release
- Office of Statewide Prosecution
- Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
- Daytona Beach Police Department
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The post Florida Attorney General Announces Charges Against 49 Defendants in Major Multi-County Fentanyl Trafficking Investigation appeared first on The Florida Pundit.
