The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, or HIDTA, task force conducted an approximately three month long investigation which resulted in five arrests and a warrant being issued for a sixth person.  All individuals are residents of Johns Street, Frostproof.   

 A warrant for Trafficking Narcotics has been issued for David Garcia, date of birth 12-8-83. 

Those arrested were:

Elias Garcia, date of birth 3-13-87, Trafficking Narcotics

Dawna McKenzie, date of birth 3-29-66, Conspiracy to Traffic Narcotics

Paulino Garcia, date of birth 10-20-84, Conspiracy to Traffic Narcotics

Dustin Wright, date of birth 10-11-84, Conspiracy to Traffic Narcotics

Felipe Jaramillo, date of birth 5-24-85, Trafficking and Conspiracy to Traffic Narcotics

Detectives learned that the Garcia brothers were participating in organized trafficking activity and were able to infiltrate the organization.  Between February 2004 and May 2004, detectives conducted undercover buys of 1 1/2 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, or ICE, with an estimated street value of $90,000.00.

The Polk County HIDTA task force is a multi-agency poly drug task force working in partnership with the Whitehouse, Office of National Drug Control Policy.  Agencies participating in the task force are:

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office
The Winter Haven Police Department
The Lakeland Police Department
The Haines City Police Department
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement
U. S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection