ORLANDO, Fla. — An undercover investigation into drug sales and alcohol safety violations at downtown Orlando bars and nightclubs resulted in 14 suspects facing 33 charges, according to the Orlando Police Department.
The six-week operation targeted establishments in Orlando’s Downtown Entertainment Area, where officers with OPD’s Drug Enforcement Division and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations observed illegal drug sales and violations of After-Midnight Alcohol Sales (AMS) permits at 12 businesses.
According to police, undercover officers purchased illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, at nine establishments.
Police said those businesses were Warped Pour, Elixir, Fixtion, Taco Kat, Aero, Celine, Sessions, Bullitt Bar and Stagger Inn.
One of the suspects charged in connection with the investigation was an employee at one of the establishments where officers observed drug sales, police said.
In addition to the drug sales, undercover officers documented 19 violations of After-Midnight Alcohol Sales permit requirements at nine establishments.
Police said the businesses were Warped Pour, Elixir, Fixtion, La Rosa, Celine, Parlay, Bullitt Bar, Stagger Inn and Cosmo.
According to OPD, the violations involved required security measures, including weapons detection systems and identification scanners.
Officers observed inadequate or nonexistent wand searches and instances in which identification cards were not scanned.
Police said a hearing will be held to address the violations. The outcome could include the suspension or revocation of permits for businesses found to be in violation.
During the same six-week period, OPD’s Tactical Anti-Crime Unit continued its regular enforcement efforts in the downtown entertainment district outside the establishments targeted in the undercover investigation.
Investigators said the operation resulted in the seizure of 8 grams of cocaine, 143 grams of methamphetamine, 1 gram of heroin and 166 grams of cannabis that police said was being sold on the streets.
Officers also seized four illegally possessed firearms.
In total, the enforcement efforts resulted in 35 arrests, including 27 felony arrests, according to OPD.
Channel 9 is gathering more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
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