JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters on Wednesday announced the arrests of 14 people who are accused of being a part of a major drug trafficking operation in Duval County and beyond.
Waters said the five-month investigation, dubbed “Operation Players Club,” was developed to target some of the largest known suppliers and sources of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Jacksonville area.
Paul Anderson, who Waters said was “a significant drug trafficker in our area and one of the targets of the operation,” is pending federal prosecution.
A total of 26 guns, 118 pounds of methamphetamine (worth $663,000), 12 kilograms of MDMA (worth $99,000), 7.5 kilos of cocaine (worth $150,000), 2.25 kilos of fentanyl (worth $121,000) and $239,000 in cash among other drugs were seized in the operation.
“We will never be able to quantify the lives that were saved by removing this poison from our streets, but unquestionably the excellent investigative work of the men and women of JSO and our law enforcement partners all over the southeast over the course of three months, our community enters a new year, safer and more secure, and a lot of dope dealers are off the street,” Waters said.
WATCH: Press play below to watch Sheriff Waters’ full news conference
Another 13 accused traffickers have pending warrants and Waters said they will be arrested and taken into custody soon.
Waters said the operation that began in June 2023 resulted in the dismantling of five drug trafficking organizations in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico.
“Operation Players Club stands as a major law enforcement achievement,” Waters said. “Still, we know that our community will not be able to arrest its way out of the narcotics problem. Nevertheless, this agency will work aggressively and continue to work aggressively to enforce the laws prohibiting the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics.”
In 2023, JSO said it investigated 433 overdose deaths and the operation aimed to target the supply of deadly drugs.
“The outcomes of this investigation evidence that law enforcement plays a vital role in removing the poison that feeds addiction and kills members of our community because gun violence is directly connected with narcotics distribution,” Waters said. “If you’re struggling with addiction, I urge you to seek the help of many of our committed social service providers to provide addiction rehabilitation. One overdose death in our community is one too many.”
