Marijuana is most-seized drug: FHP makes 1,025 felony arrests in 2022

FLORIDA – The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) made over 1,000 felony arrests and confiscated over 5,000 pounds of narcotics in 2022, the FHP said.

According to the FHP, marijuana was the most-seized drug by its Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU) in terms of weight.

According to the FHP, the CIU is responsible for operations to uncover nefarious drug activity along Florida’s roadways, including rooting out illegal human trafficking and smuggling efforts.

In 2022, the FHP said its CIU conducted 1,025 felony arrests on 2,187 felony charges and confiscated over 5,000 pounds of narcotics and currency valued at $110,400,681. Included in the seizures was over $5 million in U.S. currency, used by these criminals to fund their operations and live extravagantly while others suffer, the FHP said.

The FHP’s CIU also seized 204 weapons and inhibited the smuggling of 148 undocumented immigrants during its year-long operations across Florida’s 67 counties, the FHP said.

According to the FHP, while marijuana was the most-seized drug in terms of gross weight, 722 pounds of cocaine were confiscated, as were 649 pounds of other drugs. Other drugs included fentanyl, oxycodone, xylazine, and ecstasy/molly, among others.

“The Florida Highway Patrol represents more than traffic enforcement and safety,” said Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

“The men and women dedicated to keeping Florida communities safe are Florida’s finest. As they patrol the many roadways across the state, they confiscate dangerous narcotics and weapons.”

FHP CIU undergoes regular, intensive training to stay up to date on tactics used by criminals, such as how to uncover hidden compartments in vehicles and spot human trafficking/smuggling, the FHP said.

CIU’s K-9 unit requires five months of initial training, followed by more rigorous work to make an effective team. CIU has also been trained to provide first-aid training to K-9s.

CIU performed three major joint ops last year in Escambia, Sumter, and Columbia counties. In addition to weapon/drug confiscation and combatting human trafficking/smuggling, the FHP said its CIU can boast to:

• Finding murderers with in-state and out-of-state warrants
• Recovering stolen merchandise
• Uncovering identity and social security theft
• Halting diesel fuel theft and discovering gas scams
• Contributing to rescue efforts and traffic control during Hurricane Ian and other disasters

“The Criminal Interdiction Unit is a group of highly trained, highly motivated, and very dedicated individuals who make a great force for good within the Florida Highway Patrol,” said Major Sandy Mandell, FHP Bureau Commander of Criminal Investigations.

“They consistently go above and beyond to make it safer for Florida’s residents and visitors.”