By Michael Moore Jr.
The Bradenton Herald
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says it has made the largest fentanyl bust in county history.
Detectives seized more than $1.7 million worth of drugs and weapons and arrested a suspected local drug dealer, while deputies say they are still searching for another suspected drug dealer.
“This is the most significant fentanyl seizure in Manatee County history, and our community and neighboring counties are safer because of it,” Sheriff Rick Wells said in a statement Tuesday.
The sheriff’s office said undercover detectives began investigating fentanyl sales at a suspected drug house on Sixth Street West in Bradenton in November. As part of the investigation, an undercover detective bought drugs at the home and identified Maurice Baxter , 23, as one of the dealers.
Deputies later determined Baxter to be part of a larger drug operation detectives were already looking into, according to a news release.
Detectives continued buying fentanyl from the suspected drug house before getting a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Baxter, according to the sheriff’s office.
Manatee’s largest-ever drug bust
On March 13 , the sheriff’s office’s SWAT Team executed the search warrant and detained Tron Williams , 40, who was the only person inside, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies said they did not find Baxter at the home.
Inside a second-floor bedroom that appeared to belong to Williams, detectives say they found 12.3 kilograms of fentanyl, including liquid pharmaceutical-grade citrate, along with 1 kilogram of cocaine, 1 kilogram of MDMA, 273 grams of methamphetamine, 822 grams of marijuana and 29.4 grams of Adderall.
The sheriff’s office said the fentanyl alone had a street value of $1.4 million.
Detectives also recovered multiple firearms, including an FN Five-seven handgun, which is sometimes called a “cop killer” because its ammunition can penetrate some types of soft body armor, according to the sheriff’s office. More than 1,000 rounds of ammunition were found in Williams’ bedroom.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office released photographs of some of the drugs seized in what they say is the county’s largest fentanyl bust in county history. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
Detectives have obtained warrants to compare DNA found on the drug packaging, according to the release.
Williams faces charges of trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA. He remains in the Manatee County Jail without bond, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies are still searching for Baxter, who remains at large.
Anyone with information on Baxter’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 747-3011. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Manatee County Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS or ManateeCrimeStoppers.com.
The Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells held a press conference to release details of what they say is the county’s largest fentanyl bust in county history. Tiffany Tompkins /ttompkins@bradenton.comThe Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells held a press conference to release details of what they say is the county’s largest fentanyl bust in county history. Tiffany Tompkins /ttompkins@bradenton.comThe Manatee County Sheriff’s Office released photographs of some of the drugs seized in what they say is the county’s largest fentanyl bust in county history. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
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This is developing story will be updated.
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