Release posted on 10-25-22 at 12:04 p.m.

Summary:
On Tuesday, October 25, at the St. Petersburg Police Department, Chief Anthony Holloway, announced the results of an investigation by a multi-agency task force into a major regional drug ring.

In January 2022, the St. Petersburg Police Dept. began investigating gun violence throughout the city. Investigators established a link between shootings and a major drug ring. They began Operation Coquina Key to investigate several suspects trafficking in large quantities of marijuana and other narcotics. More than a dozen NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) reports linked this group to shootings throughout Pinellas County.

Given the group's extensive ties to several jurisdictions throughout Central Florida, Chief Holloway brought together various local agencies, as well as state and federal partners, to pool resources to investigate this criminal organization. "This violent drug ring operated throughout the entire region and law enforcement agencies were more effective working together to bring it down," said Anthony Holloway, Chief of St. Petersburg Police.

Throughout the long-term investigation, the task force completed more than 130 warrants and 130 subpoenas.

During the last two weeks the following was seized during the execution of six search warrants and 26 arrests:

• Approximately 1800 lbs. of marijuana (approx.$3 million value)
• 15 guns (three of them were stolen)
• $360,000 cash
• 7 lbs. of liquid promethazine (codeine, 25-year min.sentence)
• 42 grams of crack cocaine
• 40 grams of powder cocaine
• 5 grams of methamphetamine
• 18 grams of heroin/fentanyl mix
• 252 BU Crystals (mis-sold as Ecstasy or Molly)
• 1054 grams of THC wax
• 2 stolen vehicles
• 6 vehicles seized

Assisting agencies: Pinellas Pasco State Attorney, Clearwater Police, Tampa Police, Hillsborough Sheriff's Office, Pinellas Sheriff's Office, Manatee Sheriff's Office, ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives) Tampa Field Division, FDLE, FBI Tampa.