Thread: FT MYERS FL:Cops seize drugs, more than $1 million in cash

Cops seize drugs, more than $1 million in cash in Fort Myers bust
Friday, September 14, 2007

A Lee County Sheriff’s Office conference room looked like a cross between a Mexican pharmacy and a Las Vegas casino counting room Friday afternoon as authorities proudly displayed the fruits of what they said is the largest single drug bust and cash seizure in county history.

Piles of cash, mostly $100 bills, sat in thick bricks on a large table, while still more bundles clicked and whirred their way through sorting machines manned by about a dozen Lee County Sheriff’s Office employees. The illegal pharmaceutical drugs seized from the La Mexicana restaurant at 1441 Ortiz Ave. in Fort Myers at around 3 a.m. Friday – from anabolic steroids to vaginal suppositories – towered in massive piles nearby.

Sheriff Mike Scott said the fruitful late-night drug raid was the result of a cooperative effort between the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the culmination of a five-month undercover investigation into the La Mexican restaurant.

“We were able to infiltrate the La Mexicana with our undercover operation and recover a litany of European and Mexican drugs, and well over $1 million in cash,â€

Fort Myers has a Spanish flea market that has computers set up and sells Id's to the Illegals. I couldn't believe this my friend took us and had to show us. Bigbanner on booth Id's sold here in spanish them just ID'S. The place was all spanish and they looked a little nervous at us being about the only American's there. I took my camera for pictures but thought better of it as they were watching us.

LEE COUNTY: Two people were arrested Friday morning after deputies say a five month investigation revealed they were running an illegal pharmacy out of a Mexican restaurant. Deputies seized prescription drugs and made their largest cash seizure ever.

Rosindo Rangel and Anna Roque were taken into custody at the La Mexicana Restaurant on Ortiz Avenue.

Investigators say the husband and wife were selling steroids and prescription drugs from foreign countries. Some of the drugs were traced to Mexico and others were from Europe.

"We believe this has direct ties to Mexico, and direct ties to the international community," said Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott.

"I don't know about everything we have. Some of these drugs are not FDA approved and are not legal in this country," said Sergeant Gary Nosbusch of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies seized an estimated $1.2 million worth of drugs and say that number could climb because they are still sorting through what they found. But the cash value of everything seized totals over $1.8 million.

"For the Lee County Sheriff's Office, it's a record cash seizure," said Scott. "I don't know if we could go to Walgreens right now and find this much stuff on hand."

Authorities say Rangel is an illegal immigrant and has been taken into federal custody.

"This is everything. This is drugs, this is cash, this is weapons, and this is illegal immigrants," said Scott.

But that was not all. Deputies also found hundreds of lottery tickets they believe may be part of a lottery scam.

Deputies say the investigation is just starting. They say officials from the Lottery Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the IRS, and U.S. Customs will all be involved.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 643&z=3&p=

I believe this restaurant is right next to the Ortiz flee market mentioned above in another post. I've been their at the mentioned booth and have taken pictures of it. Yes they were less than happy with me and closed for the day cussing me in Spanish.

This arrest has opened up a whole can of worms.They discovered the owner was cashing checks for the Illegals and charging them hugh check cashing charges.

The police are going to use these checks to track the people who wrote them and are going to arrest them for hiring Illegal Aliens !!!

YES it is about time our sheriff got serious about the incredible growth of Illegal Immigrants in Lee County !!

I bet there are a lot of contractors not sleeping well tonight !

Deputies also found hundreds of lottery tickets they believe may be part of a lottery scam.

This is a new twist. I haven't heard it before.