ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County sheriff's deputies and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Friday that a major drug investigation led to more than 30 arrests.
Authorities called the investigation “Operation Old Cheney” because of the target area near Old Cheney Highway and Semoran Boulevard.
Deputies said they began the investigation after repeated complaints from neighbors and businesses.
Vikki Long has lived in the neighborhood for 16 years.
She said in the last couple years, the drug problem has gotten out of control.
“Our neighborhood has been very watchful. Whenever we see suspicious activity we let the sheriff’s department know,” said Long.
For four months, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and DEA had been performing undercover operations in several duplexes in the area, authorities said.
“If you do an overlay on this area you can see the heroin problem on Semoran has never died down, but it’s more centralized in that area now, which is what caused us to enter it,” said Lt. Mike Rosier, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said that 58 warrants were issued and almost 40 people were arrested.
Drug agents said the suspects were selling prescription drugs and heroin.
Neighbors said they had continually made complaints as the drug problem got increasingly worse.
“Hey, you have to fight for your neighborhood. That is essentially what it is,” Long said.
Investigators said it wasn’t an organized drug ring.
The suspects knew each other, but weren’t working together.
WFTV
