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Nearly two dozen arrested in Sumter County drug sting

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies in Sumter County have arrested more than 20 people they said were selling everything from prescription pills to cocaine and meth.

The three-month operation hit spots all across the county with one accused dealer being arrested in Lake County.

Withlacoochee Heights is a small community in Sumter County a few miles from Bushnell. There, sheriff's detectives rounded up most of the drug suspects, authorities said.

"Pills, as usual," said Sumter County Sheriff's Capt. Kevin Hofecker. "That's always a plague for us.  We're making a real effort to thwart that and drive that down."

Deputies said there was some marijuana, meth, and cocaine in the mix, too.

In all, 23 people were arrested as the result of an undercover investigation called Operation Spring Sting.   The sting involved weeks of undercover buys and ended with all of the busts happening on the same day.

Detectives said they often see lots of familiar faces during big roundups but this time netted a lot of newcomers.

Investigators think some intended to make a name for themselves as street-level drug dealers.

"Seems to be a revolving door," said Hofecker. "When people move out, others step up."