80 People Charged In Dania Drug Sweep
DANIA BEACH (CBS4) - A six month operation in which the Broward Sheriff's Office targeted drug dealers in Dania Beach has resulted in charges against 80 people.
On Monday, the sheriff's department announced the results of Operation Street Sweeper II which ran from the middle of last July through the end of December. During the sweep suspected drug dealers were caught on camera selling drugs to undercover BSO detectives driving unmarked cars equipped with hidden cameras and microphones.
Sheriff's deputies started arresting those 'caught on camera' in the beginning of January and all but 20 or so individuals have been taken into custody and charged.
"All that's missing on there is 'smile, you're on candid camera,'" said Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti. "And when it comes down to court, it's going to be hard to refute."
Of those arrested, 70 were charged with sale of cocaine, eight more were charged with trafficking in cocaine or prescription pills and two more who are facing federal drug charges. In addition to the arrests, BSO detectives seized 212 grams of crack and powder cocaine, 360 Oxycodone pills, 121 Xanax pills, 132 grams of marijuana, 12 Ecstasy pills, $6,002, three firearms and two vehicles.
The bust is music to the ears of local store owners and residents who decided to take action.
"We used to kick them (drug dealers) out ever 5-10 minutes," said Anan A-Bu-Zhara. "They used to threaten us. Now, you don't see anybody."
The end result of the sweep will be fewer drug deals and cleaner streets. And if the dealers or replacements are thinking about coming back, Betty Sokel of the Citizen's On Patrol program have a message.
"I'd say, don't come to Dania, you'll be caught and put in jail," Sokel said.
Detectives said they aren't done yet and that the sweep has led to lots of leads to follow-up after all of the current arrests are made.
