A large-scale narcotics operation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office has resulted in the arrest of more than 50 people across the county.
"Now we can have a relief that, you know, knowing that these people were bad to our neighbor and they're gone. Feel relieved, obviously," said Mirla Alvarez, a resident of the neighborhood.
Alvarez now understands why deputies swarmed Felix Avenue North and 9th Street West in Lehigh Acres Thursday morning. The Lee County Sheriff's Office was in the process of busting drug dealers throughout the area.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during a news conference, "We're done. I'm not playing games. I'm coming at drug dealers like they've never seen. My narcotics team is the best of the best, and we have the tools because of our amazing county commissioners who stand for what's right."
In the operation, the sheriff's office collected:
- 7.5 kilos of cocaine
- One kilo of fentanyl
- Hundreds of pills
- 30 pounds of marijuana
- 100 guns
- Over 1,000 rounds of ammunition
Alvarez had called code enforcement on one of the raided houses two months ago.
"Well, this neighbor moved here maybe two years ago or less, and it's been a headache for the other neighbors because initially, I thought they were hoarders because the front lawn was covered with belongings and looked like a garage sale at times," Alvarez explained.
Lee County Code Enforcement told NBC2 the people who live in the house have been paying daily fines on the house since 2021 to pay off a lien because of trash accumulation.
Alvarez said she saw a man and a woman being arrested this morning.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office confirmed that they are still rounding up more individuals in connection with the operation.
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