A major drug trafficking organization in Miami was dismantled following a large-scale police operation that culminated in the arrest of 20 suspects, local authorities reported. The operation, dubbed Operation «El Primo», represents one of the most significant blows against drug trafficking in South Florida in recent months.
Operation «El Primo»: Coordinated raids with FBI support
According to the Miami Police, the arrests were carried out during a series of simultaneous raids early Tuesday morning as part of the operation’s second phase. The operation was supported by the FBI in a joint effort involving various state and federal agencies.
Authorities indicated that the detainees were considered «high-priority defendants», as they had been named in recent federal indictments, some of which were linked to a murder-for-hire plot that was neutralized before it could be carried out.
Cocaine trafficking in Miami: Key operational areas
According to the investigation, the criminal network maintained a sophisticated cocaine trafficking operation, primarily concentrated in the Flagami area, although it also had a presence in Little Havana and Coral Way—strategic locations within the city of Miami.
These areas were identified as key drug distribution points, prompting months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and undercover work by detectives.
Seizure of cocaine, cash, and weapons
During the operation, law enforcement officers seized more than 22 kilograms of cocaine, as well as over 20,000 in cash, firearms, and ammunition, evidence that underscores the criminal group’s level of organization and dangerousness.
Authorities emphasized that this seizure represents a direct blow to drug trafficking finances in Miami, as well as a key action to prevent violent crimes associated with drug trafficking.
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Authorities send a strong message against drug trafficking
Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales underscored the operation’s significance and sent a clear message to criminal organizations.
«This strike sends a clear and unequivocal message: drug trafficking and the violence that follows will not be tolerated in Miami», he declared in an official statement.
Morales also recognized the work of the narcotics detectives from the Special Investigations Section, who dedicated hundreds of hours, many of them undercover, to ensure the operation’s success.
Collaboration among agencies is key to success
The police chief highlighted the interagency coordination with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, headed by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
This collaboration, he noted, was instrumental in ensuring a safe and effective operation that dismantled the criminal network and strengthened security in the city.
