Multi-Agency Operations Seize 64 Pounds, 160,000 Pills of Deadly Drug, Crippling Cartel Operations
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – In a victory against the deadly tide of fentanyl, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force has dismantled two separate, multi-agency undercover operations, leading to the arrest of eight individuals linked to Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Transnational Criminal Organizations.
The investigations collectively seized a staggering 64 pounds of fentanyl – enough to claim millions of lives and marking the most significant single seizure in Polk County’s history.
“This is the largest seizure of Fentanyl in Polk County to date – in just these two investigations, my detectives seized 64 pounds of Fentanyl, which is enough to kill millions of people,” stated an emphatic Sheriff Grady Judd. “We will continue to go after these criminals to reduce the flow of these deadly drugs into the United States and Florida.”
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These back-to-back operations underscore the pervasive threat posed by international drug trafficking organizations and highlight the critical role of inter-agency cooperation and specialized funding in combating the fentanyl crisis. The investigations were significantly aided by the State Financial Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E) Florida Program, established by the Florida Legislature in 2023 to provide financial support for fentanyl-related investigative costs.
Sinaloa Cartel Operation Unearths Phoenix-to-Florida Pipeline
The investigation targeting the Sinaloa Cartel commenced in July 2024, when the HIDTA Task Force discovered counterfeit fentanyl pills, disguised as blue Oxycodone, being trafficked from Sonora, Mexico, through Phoenix, Arizona, and ultimately to Florida.
Over several months, from July 2024 to January 2025, detectives orchestrated six controlled shipments of these deadly pills to Polk County, resulting in an initial seizure of approximately 17 pounds of fentanyl.
Key arrests in this operation include:
- Regina Headspeth (43): Apprehended in Arizona on June 19, 2025, after selling approximately 9 pounds of fentanyl pills to undercover detectives for a partial payment of $55,000 in S.A.F.E funds.
- Adrian Francisco Munguia (24): Traveled from Sonora, Mexico, to Florida for a multi-kilogram fentanyl transaction. He was arrested on June 17, 2025, after delivering approximately 9 pounds of fentanyl. Munguia had previously collected an outstanding payment from the Headspeth transaction.
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Munguia faces charges of Trafficking Fentanyl Over 28 Grams, Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl over 28 grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. Headspeth is charged with Trafficking Fentanyl Over 28 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Vehicle to Traffic Drugs.
Partnering agencies in the Sinaloa Cartel investigation included the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa and Phoenix Offices, U.S. Border Patrol, Auburndale Police Department, Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, and United States Postal Inspection Service from the Tampa and Phoenix offices.
Jalisco New Generation Cartel Hit: Fentanyl Hidden in Car Batteries
An earlier, equally significant fentanyl trafficking investigation this year led to the apprehension of six suspects affiliated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This operation alone resulted in the seizure of approximately 29 pounds of fentanyl, with some of the illicit drugs ingeniously concealed within fake car batteries to evade detection.
The investigation revealed a drug supplier in Michoacan, Mexico, who directed undercover detectives to a stash house in the Atlanta, Georgia area. From there, drugs were distributed.
Notable arrests in the Jalisco Cartel operation include:
- Adalberto Diaz (51): Flew from California to Tampa in April 2025, then drove to Jonesboro, GA, to retrieve one kilogram of fentanyl, which he then brought to Polk County for sale to undercover detectives. He was later arrested with his daughter while attempting to transport two kilograms of fentanyl to South Florida.
- Gerardo Valencia Cervantes: Was observed receiving a car battery containing 11 pounds of fentanyl in Jonesboro, GA. A traffic stop led to the seizure of the fentanyl, along with two additional kilograms from his possession.
- Gloria Trujillo Duque (44), Miguel Estrada (46), and Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez (40): Apprehended in May 2025 after facilitating the sale and delivery of 11 pounds of fentanyl, also concealed within a car battery.
Charges against these individuals include multiple counts of Trafficking Fentanyl over 28 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Vehicle to Traffic Drugs.
Partnering agencies in the Jalisco Cartel investigation included the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), U.S. Border Patrol, Auburndale Police Department, Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, Clayton County Police (Georgia), Forest Park Police Department (Georgia), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, Atlanta, and Birmingham Offices.
In total, these two pivotal investigations have successfully removed 64 pounds of fentanyl from circulation, including 160,000 fentanyl pills and 13 kilograms of powder fentanyl, significantly impacting the supply chains of these dangerous cartels within Florida and beyond. The ongoing efforts of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and its multi-agency partners serve as a strong deterrent to international drug trafficking organizations attempting to poison American communities.
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