Investigation leads to more than 30 arrests
A three-month-long investigation into narcotics and prostitution in North Fort Myers resulted in 31 arrests announced on Thursday, with 16 more still at large, and the seizure of drugs, guns and other paraphernalia at a home in Suncoast Estates.
Last week, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics / Vice Unit concluded a three-month investigation in North Fort Myers called Operation Sundown, which was conducted following numerous complaints of drug and prostitution activity in the area, officials said.
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott said that most of the sting took place undercover, and unlike most actions where they target large and mid-level crime, this one targeted “street-level criminals.”
“We normally go after the biggest fish. We thought it was time to disrupt the lower level drug crimes and the prostitution and other crimes and disrupt the customer base,” Scott said.
Scott also said by hitting almost four dozen customers at once, it doesn’t give them a chance to “lay low” until the heat is off from arresting one or two people.
Much of the action occurred in the Suncoast community, Scott said, an area that has been pegged as among the higher crime areas in Lee County. Operation Sundown was a way to keep those residents safe.
“The vast majority of Suncoast residents are fine people, and because it’s on the lower socio-economic demo, it doesn’t take long for a couple criminals to sully the neighborhood,” Scott said. “I’m sure they appreciate it. They have children and don’t want drug dealers, prostitution and burglars in their neighborhood.”
Also, a search warrant at one residence yielded three loaded handguns, 28.4 grams of heroin, $1,772 in cash (forfeiture), 14 gift cards totaling $2,021.77 (forfeiture), 17.3 grams of crack cocaine, 12 Dilaudid pills, 39 Clonzepam, 161 Hydromorphone, eight Gabapetin, nine Sertraline, cell phones and other paraphernalia, officials said in a release on the enforcement action.
The effort does more than get criminals off the streets. Scott said the arrests can lead to the arrests of higher level criminals with the cooperation of those wishing for lighter sentences.
“This is part of a continuing effort to send a message. These are people we target, we watch them, we build a case against them and then we swoop in on them to disrupt the criminal element for a while,” Scott said, adding that when they make arrests, they have an opportunity to make more arrests, with a handful of those arrested wanting to help themselves by providing information on suppliers and the like.
If you know the whereabouts of anyone with an outstanding warrant, call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 477-1000.
Or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.