Posted: 2:50 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015

Deputies arrest suspected leader of Jamaican drug cartel operation during traffic stop

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Mark Reed/McKay Smith

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Photos: MBI agents arrest man in suspected Jamaican drug cartel ring

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Orange County Deputies arrested a man local drug agents said was leading a Jamaican drug cartel operation in central Florida.

Deputies pulled McKoy Smith over on Central Florida Parkway and a drug dog hit on the car. Inside they found a box with nearly $300,000 cash, according to deputies.

Investigators believe the cash is tied to the large scale Jamaican marijuana smuggling ring the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation worked to break up two years ago.
Photos: MBI agents arrest man in suspected Jamaican drug cartel ring
Agents seized more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana from stash house across central Florida.

Investigators said they believe the cartel imported the marijuana from Mexico by mail, freight, car and RV.

Agents also seized cash, weapons and arrested more than 50 people, including suspected ring leaders Mark Reed and Charmaine Roman.

Authorities said Reed and Smith are the same person.

"To be honest with you, we really don't know who they are. I'm not sure that's their real name,” the MBI director said about the suspects in 2013.

Court records show Reed, who also goes by Terence Turbe, was released on bond after agreeing to a plea deal in May.

Reed was facing 110 during the last case and is currently in police custody.

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