JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday the arrest of 13 men accused of drug and gun-related charges as part of its monthslong undercover investigation called “Operation Knight Fall.”
According to Sheriff T.K. Waters, between April and October 2024, JSO narcotics detectives, police officers and FBI agents served several search warrants in the Ken Knight Drive area.
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As a result of that operation, law enforcement recovered 79 grams of fentanyl, 300 grams of methamphetamine, 1849 grams of MDMA and ecstasy, and other drugs.
Officers also recovered two cars that were being used in narcotics distribution, thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash, and 16 firearms.
One of those firearms was used in a shooting in August 2022, Waters said. No one was injured in that shooting but multiple cars were shot during that incident.
Another one of the firearms recovered was used in another shooting in August 2019, in which a person was non-fatally shot, Waters said.
“We do this not only to remove the poison that fuels overdose deaths and addiction but also to remove the accelerant which ignites violence in our community,” Waters said.
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According to Sheriff T.K. Waters, “Operation Knight Fall” was possible thanks to a resident’s anonymous complaint from February 2023 regarding illegal drug activity in that area.
“While I am very heartened by the results of this operation, I am even more proud of its genesis,” Waters said. “Operation Knight Fall evidences that when a concerned citizen shares information about neighborhood crime with law enforcement, even anonymously, police can and will take decisive steps to stamp on illegal activity that destroys the quality of life for law-abiding citizens.”
Waters ended Tuesday’s news conference by publicly thanking the citizens who spoke up.
“The citizen’s complaint spearheaded the outcomes that I am sharing today,” Waters said. “Communication between the public and the police is at the heart of community policing.”
A neighbor News4JAX spoke with talked about the ongoing problem.
“It has continued to be a problem that hasn’t been really solved. It’s more drugs than there were before,” they said.
Another neighbor shared a similar response.
“Sometimes, I just sit in my yard and just watch. I’m not a police officer or a detective, but I know right from wrong,” the neighbor said. “They are going to get caught sooner or later.”
In addition to the drugs and guns, police also seized $15,000 in cash, $35,000 worth of jewelry and two vehicles suspected of being used during the drug deals.
People can submit tips to the JSO Narcotics Unit at 904.630.2163 or NarcTips@jaxsheriff.org. They can also contact First Coast Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477) or by visiting fccrimestoppers.com.