Search for drug lord underway after 36 arrested in Marion County drug bust

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A year-and-a-half-long investigation led to the bust of four drug trafficking organizations and 36 people arrested, the Marion County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday.

The suspects were trafficking heroin and other illegal drugs, deputies said.

"All of these people who were arrested are drug dealers. They are not users, these are the high level people," said Lauren Lettelier with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Louis Jose Arce, 47, is accused of distributing the heroin to the four drug trafficking organizations, deputies said.

"He is the biggest guy in Marion county for heroin," Lettelier said.

Even after the drug dealers were arrested, Arce continued to sell heroin and create other drug trafficking organizations.

Acre was arrested Sept. 9. He has since posted bail, and deputies said his whereabouts are unknown. Another warrant has been issued for his arrest on new charges, deputies said.

Heroin overdoses and deaths have increased in Marion County over the past year, deputies said.

Deputies are searching for 19 other suspects.

Louis Jose Arce
Edinor Acosta
Sander Carbono De La Hoz
David Bahamundi
Amber Morgan
Renaldo Wise
Gabriel Troche
Quadrey Boyd
Tyrone Foster
Jean Jimenez
Jonathan Ballester
Samuel Webber
Robert Reid
Tyrone Wilkerson
Brittany Kirby
Antonio Baker
Wilfredo Mendez
Jerry Harrell
Anthony Scott

If anyone has any information on the location of these wanted subjects, please call 352-732-9111. Or to remain anonymous, please call the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867).

Channel 9's Myrt Price will have more on this story on Eyewitness News at 4 p.m.

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