ORLANDO, Fla. – Arrest warrants were issued Wednesday against 16 defendants within the Central Florida Heroin Drug Trafficking Organization.
Four other defendants had been arrested early on in the investigation, bringing the total defendants to 20, according to the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations.
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According to officials, members of the organization would travel to New York and smuggle heroin back into Central Florida.
Officials believe the operation was operated out of three different homes, where the drugs would be packaged and stored.
The leaders of the organization are believed to be Joshua Rodriguez and Raymond Ramos. Other high-ranking members who are being charged have been identified as David Lopez, William Marrero, Miguel Rodriquez and Efrain Santiago.
Of the charges being brought against the 16 are Racketeering-RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations), conspiracy to commit racketeering-RICO and trafficking heroin.
A violation of Florida's RICO Act is a first degree, which is punishable by 30 years in Florida State Prison.
Anyone with any information related to this organization is asked to call the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations at (407) 836-9701 or Crimeline at (407) 423-TIPS.