Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that 25 people have been charged in a drug trafficking organization that officials say distributed cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine across multiple Florida counties. Nineteen suspects are in custody, and six remain at large.
The investigation, called Operation Ice Breaker, began in March 2026 and focused mainly on Palm Beach, Broward and St. Lucie counties, with activity in Miami-Dade and on Florida’s west coast. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Office of Statewide Prosecution took part. Investigators named Ariel Fernandez Alonso as the primary target.
Agents served 21 search warrants over the past several days. Authorities said they seized about 45.5 kilograms of cocaine, 84 grams of fentanyl, about 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, prescription pills and 14 pounds of marijuana. They also recovered five rifles and 11 handguns, one of which was reported stolen.
Several defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit racketeering, drug trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. Uthmeier said some face mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years if convicted.
Investigators said cocaine was shipped into Florida from California, sometimes weekly, before being distributed across South Florida. Uthmeier said the investigation remains active and more arrests or charges are possible.
