More than 50 people were charged and several homes where meth was manufactured were demolished after a yearlong investigation in St. Johns County.
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said warrants were issued for 54 suspects after the investigation into the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine.
Thirty suspects charged in the investigation were identified as manufacturers producing ounces of meth daily.
They used "one pot" or "Shake-n-bake" methods to produce between five and twenty grams of meth per manufacturing cycle, SJSO said.
As many as 250 coconspirators bought and stole supplies for the suspects manufacturing the meth, St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said.
During the investigation, deputies learned meth was being manufactured in five homes, some of which housed children.
Two of the homes were within 1,000 feet from a school and three were demolished, Shoar said.
Photos: 45 of 54 suspects arrested in year-long meth investigation
The house addresses are:
- 136 Palmer Street
- 319 Ravenswood Dr.
- 4685 Avenue D.
- 6841 Tammy Ln.
- 530 Colee St., Lot K
Deputies, agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Marshals Service began arresting suspects July 27.
Nine suspects are still sought, deputies said.
No one was injured during the arrests, Shoar said.
Several firearms were recovered.
He said at least for today, St. Johns County is a safer place.
LARGE METHAMPHETAMINE INVESTIGATION TARGETS 54 SUSPECTS A multi-agency investigation into the manufacture and selling...
Posted by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, August 3, 2016
St. John's County Sheriff David Shoar announcing "Operation Ancient City Brewers II" @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/JNIRzk5iI1
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) August 3, 2016
SJSO: Year-long investigation leads to 54 arrests in connection with production and sale of meth in St. Johns County
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) August 3, 2016
Sheriff announces arrest of 54 people in the past few days alone for production of meth. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/efyHIzUohN
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) August 3, 2016
Sheriff Shoar says 5 homes in the county were used to make the meth. 2 of them were within 1,000 feet from a school. @ActionNewsJax
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) August 3, 2016
Sheriff Shoar: "three of these homes have already been demolished". @ActionNewsJax
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) August 3, 2016
Several of the individuals would allegedly steal ingredients to make the meth, in exchange for using the drug. @ActionNewsJax
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) August 3, 2016
For example, the 4 people were cooks in this house. The ones under them worked for the cooks. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/4iR9ugxXzj
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) August 3, 2016
DEA says 30 of the suspects were id'ed as meth manufacturers producing ounces daily. Co-conspirators bought and stole supplies/precursors.
— Stephanie Brown (@SBrownReports) August 3, 2016
SJC Sheriff Shoar says there were children in some of the homes where meth was being produced
— Stephanie Brown (@SBrownReports) August 3, 2016
Shoar: We're not going to stop meth production as a result of this, but it will slow things down
— Stephanie Brown (@SBrownReports) August 3, 2016
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