Five people were arrested Wednesday, Aug. 5, after a pre-dawn raid dismantled a drug-trafficking organization operating out of Pasco County, the same county that includes Land O' Lakes and Lutz. FBI Tampa said the group had direct ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The operation was carried out by HSTF-Tampa, the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Strike Force, with FBI Tampa leading the coordinated effort. Agents moved before sunrise to execute the arrests, according to the bureau's verified account on X.
FBI Tampa described the Sinaloa Cartel as a transnational criminal organization with violent, far-reaching operations. The cartel, based in Mexico, is one of the world's largest drug-trafficking syndicates.
No names were released.
The bureau did not release the specific charges filed or what drugs were seized. Federal charges, if filed, would appear in Middle District of Florida court records. No press release from the agency's website had been posted as of Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Bay 28 reported.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has not publicly confirmed its role in the operation. FBI Tampa's announcement credited HSTF-Tampa but did not name other partner agencies.
Residents who suspect drug activity in their neighborhood can submit tips to FBI Tampa at tips.fbi.gov or by calling (813) 253-1000, which is staffed around the clock.
