Cars, cash drugs: Cops nab Jamaican drug ring in Central Florida

Members of the Central Florida Jamaican Cannabis Drug Trafficking Organization were arrested on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in cannabis and money laundering, said the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

MBI agents said they filed arrest warrants for 36 people.

Investigators said Charmaine Roman was the main launderer of millions of dollars derived from the cannabis sales.

Roman is being held in the Orange County Jail. Other arrests have been made, but confirmed details were not immediately released.

Agents said five search warrants were executed in Orange County.

Central Florida law enforcement officials first became aware of this violent Jamaican drug trafficking organization in 2006. Since that time, hundreds of pounds of cannabis have been interdicted or seized from individuals associated with this organization. Violent crimes, such as homicide, attempted homicide, home invasion robbery, armed robbery, armed narcotics trafficking and firearms violations, have been linked to many of the members of the organization.

MBI officials said the investigation revealed the organization was smuggling thousands of pounds of cannabis from Mexico into the United States, and then to Central Florida, using several methods. The methods included U.S. Postal Service packages, private package delivery services, freight shipping services and private vehicles, including recreational vehicles.

Agents said the organization used several "stash houses" in the Pine Hills area to store the cannabis, before it could be divided up and sold. They also used several warehouses in west Orlando to take delivery of shipments of cannabis and to use as bases of operation for distribution.

MBI said it seized more than 3,212 pounds of cannabis, more than $200,000 in cash, 10 firearms and six vehicles.

More arrests and seizures are anticipated as the investigation progresses, investigators said.

MBI requests that anyone with additional information related to the Drug Trafficking Organization please contact MBI at 407-836-9701 or Crimeline at 407-423-TIPS.