Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced he has arrested 49 individuals as part of an alleged drug organization for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Volusia, Flagler, Saint Johns, Marion, and Orange counties while speaking during a press conference in Palm Coast this week.
“This joint investigation dismantled a criminal organization that pumped deadly fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into Florida communities,” Uthmeier said in a release. “Through the tireless work of Florida’s law enforcement, state attorneys, and our statewide prosecutors, we have arrested 49 traffickers and disrupted these networks. Florida families deserve safe streets free of dangerous drugs, and we will continue holding every member of this organization fully accountable.”
The investigation, known as "Operation Ice Breaker II," led by the Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County Sheriffs, and several other agencies, used court-authorized pen registers, trap-and-trace orders, and full wire intercepts on several target telephones, as well as physical surveillance and controlled purchases to trace distribution networks trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances from fall of 2025 to June 2026.
Investigators later issued search warrants on locations connected to the network finding narcotics, currency, digital scales with residue, cutting agents, and cellular telephones.
Vetrick Maurice Shavers Jr and Richard Gene Hocker III were among those arrested, as well as Antonio Bejon Lee. Shavers Jr and Hocker III are charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking fentanyl, while Hocker III is also charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
Lee is charged with trafficking fentanyl.
All three individuals could face decades in prison and hundreds of thousands in fines if convicted on the various charges.
“Operation Ice Breaker II is a testament to the relentless work of our detectives and the strength of our partnerships,” Daytona Beach Police Cheif Jakari Young said. “Drug trafficking fuels violence, addiction, and other crimes that impact the quality of life in our community. By dismantling this organization, we have made Daytona Beach a safer place and sent a clear message that those who choose to traffic illegal narcotics here will be held accountable.”
Attorney General Uthmeier's announcement follows the arrest of four individuals for allegedly trafficking cocaine through a press statement last week.
