VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A ringleader and more than 20 others were arrested during a heroin ring bust in early Tuesday in Volusia County, deputies said.
Deputies, who executed several search warrants during Operation Heavyweight Tuesday, said the supplier lives in Orlando and several other suspects live in Deltona.
Ringleader Henry Guilfu "Gordo" Bermudez, 43, was arrested at his home on Champlain Drive in Deltona, according to a news release.
Supplier Salvador Cancel Castillo, 41, was arrested at his home on Candlewyck Drive in Orlando, the release said.
Deputies said during a news conference that 1.5 kilos of heroin and fentanyl were seized. The drugs are valued at $150,000.
"These peddlers of death are responsible for the overwhelming amount of heroin sold in Deltona," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said during the news conference. "Today wasn't a good day to be a heroin dealer in Volusia County."
The yearlong investigation included interviews with confidential sources, drug purchases, trash analysis and surveillance of the homes of Castillo and suspects Josuel Garcia and Mariano Perez, deputes said.
"This equates to 15,000 doses of heroin that would have been sold on the streets of Deltona," Chitwood said.
Fred Ciabatani, who lives on Champlain Drive, said he was visiting his father, who lives across the street, when he saw deputies make the arrests at about 5 a.m.
"Get it gone," he said. "It's affecting everyone, everywhere."
Neighbor Edith Degregorio agreed.
"I don't want that on the street," she said. "I walk these streets at night. I don't want any trouble."
Overall, there were more than 100 fatal overdoses throughout Volusia County in 2016, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The following people were arrested Tuesday:
Henry Bermudez (Ringleader)
Dec. 16, 1974
402 Champlain Drive, Deltona
Salvador Castillo (Supplier)
April 11, 1976
1536 Candlewyck Drive, Orlando
Luis Santiago Jr.
Oct. 14, 1972
402 Champlain Drive, Deltona
Jose Medina Nieves
Oct. 11, 1981
402 Champlain Drive, Deltona
Josuel Garcia
March 11, 1980
57 Lake Drive, Debary
Mariano Perez
Feb. 7, 1947
3222 Roland Drive, Deltona
Jose Gomez
July 18, 1978
2457 S. Huron Drive, Deltona
Raymond Morales
May 18, 1958
537 Leland Drive, Deltona
Richard Ortiz
May 26, 1981
100 Seabreeze Blvd. #503, Daytona Beach
Luis Casellas
June 27, 1959
1533 Keeling Drive, Deltona
Katie "Scarlett" Allison
April 21, 1988
602 Sullivan St., Deltona
Taylor Schell
December 11, 1988
1743 Oak St., Deland
Fernando Izquierdo
October 17, 1960
1470 Quintara Ave., Deltona
Christopher Munoz
Jan. 4, 1993
649 Alexander Drive, Deltona
Carlos Vazquez Romero
Feb. 20, 1980
2913 Delby Drive, Deltona
Ryan Gazda
April 19, 1988
3250 Elkcam Blvd., Deltona
Charie Matos
November 4, 1987
165 Highland Dr, Deltona
Already in custody:
Jessica Blackwell
May 27, 1968
3220 Cadehill Drive, Deltona
Unrelated warrant arrest at 402 Champlain:
Tamera Pena Lopez
Outstanding suspects as of Tuesday afternoon:
Ryan Robles
August 4, 1996
2714 E Waco Drive, Deltona
Jessica Jerald
De. 17, 1968
Transient, DeLand
David Slabodnik
Dec. 8, 1963
140 Orchid Woods Court #1A, Deltona
Christine Smith
Sept. 18, 1971
1001 Rosetta Drive, Deltona
Angel Garcia
Nov. 3, 1970
1328 Star Court, Deltona
On @WFTV @VolusiaSheriff @SheriffChitwood Operation Heavyweight uncovers, moves in on 20-plus suspects involved in"significant' heroin distribution ring. Busts unfolded earlier this morning. #WFTV
— Angela Jacobs WFTV (@AngelaJacobsTV) March 13, 2018
On @WFTV @VolusiaSheriff says “Operation Heavyweight” was operating in mostly in Deltona with supplier in Orlando #WFTV
— Angela Jacobs WFTV (@AngelaJacobsTV) March 13, 2018
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