Eight suspects arrested and 64 pounds of Fentanyl worth $4.5 million seized in two separate Fentanyl drug trafficking investigations; largest seizure in Polk County’s history
Two separate multi-agency undercover investigations into Fentanyl drug trafficking led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force resulted in the arrests of eight individuals linked to two different Cartels based in Mexico: the Sinaloa and the Jalisco New Generation Transnational Criminal Organizations. Law enforcement seized 29 pounds of Fentanyl during the investigation of the Jalisco Cartel, and seized 35 pounds of Fentanyl from the Sinaloa Cartel, which is the largest seizure during one investigation in the county’s history. These back-to-back operations underscore the ongoing threat posed by international drug trafficking organizations.
The partnering agencies in the Sinaloa Cartel investigation were: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa and Phoenix Offices; U.S Border Patrol; Auburndale Police Department; Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, and United States Postal Inspection Service from the Tampa and Phoenix offices.
The investigation has been conducted with the assistance of the State Financial Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E) Florida Program managed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In 2023, the Florida Legislature established state funding for the S.A.F.E program to conduct investigations designed to combat illegal fentanyl trafficking. The grant provides financial support and assistance for approved fentanyl-related investigative costs, such as overtime, travel, investigative supplies and equipment, and training.
“This is the largest seizure of Fentanyl in Polk County to date – in just these two investigations, my detectives seized 64 pounds of Fentanyl, which is enough to kill millions of people. We will continue to go after these criminals to reduce the flow of these deadly drugs into the United States and Florida.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
SINALOA
The investigation began in July of 2024, when members of the HIDTA Task Force discovered counterfeit Fentanyl pills affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel disguised as blue Oxycodone pills, being trafficked from Sonora, Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona, and then to Florida.
During the early stages of the investigation, detectives coordinated shipments of pills to be sent to Polk County. Between July 2024 and January 2025, the supplier sent six shipments of Fentanyl pills to Polk County, resulting in the initial seizure of approximately 17 pounds of Fentanyl pills.
On April 28, 2025, undercover detectives met with 43-year-old Regina Headspeth in a hotel parking lot in Lakeland, where she sold them approximately 9 pounds of fentanyl pills for a partial payment of $55,000 of SAFE funds. A traffic stop in Phoenix, Arizona, led to the money being recovered by the JPEG Group of the HSI Sells Office from Headspeth (and returned back to PCSO). A warrant was issued for her arrest, and she was apprehended in Arizona on the PCSO warrant on June 19, 2025.
On June 13, 2025, detectives arranged for 24-year-old Adrian Francisco Munguia to travel from Sonora, Mexico, to Florida to complete a transaction with undercover detectives for multi-kilograms of fentanyl. The transaction was delayed, and on June 17, 2025, Munguia transported 9 pounds of Fentanyl from Daytona Beach to Polk County. Detectives met Munguia where he delivered approximately 9 pounds of Fentanyl. Munguia was no stranger to the undercover detectives as he had previously flown in from Arizona to Florida to collect the outstanding payment for the 4-kilogram transaction that took place with Headspeth on April 28th.
An arrest team, comprised of PCSO detectives, FDLE, HSI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Special Agents, successfully apprehended Munguia.
Charges:
Adrian Francisco Munguia – Trafficking Fentanyl Over 28 Grams (F1), Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl over 28 grams (F1), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1), and Unlawful Use of a Two Way Communication Device (F3)
Regina Lynn Headspeth – Trafficking Fentanyl Over 28 Grams (F1), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1), and Maintaining a Vehicle to Traffic Drugs
JALISCO
Another major Fentanyl trafficking investigation took place earlier this year, during which PCSO detectives arrested six suspects affiliated with the Mexican drug cartel Jalisco New Generation. That investigation led to the seizure of approximately 29 pounds of Fentanyl, some of which was being transported inside fake car batteries to evade detection.
The partnering agencies in this investigation were: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); U.S Border Patrol; Auburndale Police Department; Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit; Clayton County Police (Georgia); Forest Park Police Department (Georgia), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, Atlanta, and Birmingham Offices.
A drug supplier based in Michoacan, Mexico, told undercover detectives about a drug stash house in the Atlanta, Georgia area where drugs would be delivered and from there, sold. In April 2025, 51-year-old Adalberto Diaz flew from California to Tampa and arranged to drive to Jonesboro, GA, to retrieve one kilogram of Fentanyl, then bring it to Polk County to sell to undercover detectives. Diaz negotiated transportation fees that he would receive from the undercover detectives. Diaz travelled to Jonesboro, GA, and returned to Polk County to deliver one kilogram of Fentanyl. SAFE funds were utilized to facilitate this transaction. Diaz told the detectives to contact him if they wanted him to transport or deliver any more drugs to or from them. He then flew back to California from Tampa.
The following week, the same Mexican drug supplier contacted PCSO undercover detectives again regarding a delivery of 11 pounds of Fentanyl concealed inside a car battery to the Jonesboro, GA area. Special Agents with HSI Atlanta observed a battery being exchanged, with the recipient of the battery being Gerardo Valencia Cervantes. A traffic stop on Cervantes led to local police departments and HSI Agents seizing a battery that contained 11 pounds of Fentanyl concealed inside. Two additional kilograms of fentanyl were seized from Cervantes by HSI in the Jonesboro, GA area.
In May 2025, the supplier offered to have 11 pounds of Fentanyl transported from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to Polk County. The supplier arranged for the Fentanyl to be delivered by a drug courier and the money to be collected by a separate courier. 44-year-old Gloria Trujillo Duque showed up to facilitate the sale of the 11 pounds and collect the money. Once she counted the money being used for the purchase of the drugs, she contacted 46-year-old Miguel Estrada, to bring the Fentanyl to a hotel. Estrada brought the drugs concealed inside a car battery, assisted by his cousin, 40-year-old Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez. Gloria, Maria, and Estrada were apprehended, and the drugs were seized.
Days prior, undercover detectives arranged with Adalberto Diaz to take two (approximately 4.4 pounds) of the 5 kilos (11 pounds) to south Florida, to which he agreed for a $5,000 transportation fee. Diaz and his daughter, 30-year-old Alejandrina Diaz, flew in from California, met detectives in Polk County, where they took possession of the two kilos that they were supposed to transport, but instead they were immediately taken into custody. A total of 29 kilograms (64 pounds) of Fentanyl were seized during these two investigations, which include 160,000 Fentanyl pills and 13 kilograms of powder Fentanyl.
Charges:
Gloria Trujillo Duque – Trafficking Fentanyl over 28 grams (F1), possession of drug paraphernalia (M1)
Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez – Trafficking Fentanyl over 28 Grams (F1), possession of drug paraphernalia (M1), and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
Miguel Angel Estrada – Trafficking Fentanyl over 28 Grams (F1), possession of drug paraphernalia (M1), and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
Adalberto Diaz – 2 counts trafficking Fentanyl over 28 Grams (F1), 2 counts possession of drug paraphernalia (M1), and maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
Alejandrina Diaz – Trafficking Fentanyl over 28 Grams (F1), possession of drug paraphernalia (M1)
Gerardo Valencia Cervantes – Trafficking Fentanyl over 28 Grams (F1)
