Pinellas County, USA - July 24, 2024

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Chief Anthony Holloway, and FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass held a joint press conference on July 24, 2024, to announce significant developments in ongoing narcotics operations and the dismantling of a dog-fighting ring across Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area.

Dubbed "Operation Snow Cap" for the narcotics investigation and "Operation Pedigree" for the dog-fighting ring probe, detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, in collaboration with the St. Petersburg Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 23 suspects.

The investigations, initiated in August 2023, targeted a drug trafficking organization distributing narcotics throughout the region. Simultaneously, authorities uncovered a network involved in illegal dog-fighting activities, highlighting the intersection of organized crime and animal cruelty.

Sheriff Gualtieri emphasized the breadth of ongoing investigations, warning criminals, "We’ve got many investigations just like this that are in the pipeline."

Chief Holloway underscored the agencies' determination to combat crime in the area, stating, "We have time on our side. Sooner or later, we’re going to come knocking on your door."

FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass highlighted the impact of collaborative efforts under the S.A.F.E. program, aimed at eradicating the spread of dangerous drugs like fentanyl in communities statewide. "Dismantling criminal organizations interrupts the supply of dangerous drugs into our communities, saving lives," Commissioner Glass affirmed.