Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office seized the largest amount of heroin ever apprehended in Santa Rosa County during an Oct. 8 drug bust.
“Something of this magnitude is huge,” Major Bob Johnson said, pointing out narcotics investigators had been working the case for more the two months.
Johnson said his agency alerted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to the activity, which resulted in trafficking arrests in both counties.
Santa Rosa officers discovered roughly 50 grams of heroin and 50 grams of “ice,” which Johnson said is a pure form of meth. He said normally a heroin arrest takes place for one gram or half of a gram. “So 50 grams is a lot.”
Investigator Blake Weekley estimated the street value of the drugs to be $18,000-$20,000. $500 in cash was also seized.
According to Johnson, who has worked at the agency since 1993, including serving in the narcotics unit, there has never been such a large amount of heroin seized by the agency.
Santa Rosa County SWAT team members descended upon a Milton home, located at 6583 Arlingwood Drive, in search of suspect Monica Nicole-Gonzalez Jones, 36, who was arrested on charges of trafficking heroin, trafficking amphetamines, possession of cocaine and possession of drug equipment.
Johnson said SWAT was used because intelligence gathered by narcotics officers indicated there were firearms in the home.
A Derringer handgun was found beside Jones’ bed, resulting in an additional charge of possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon charge. Ammo was also found.
Additionally, cops seized a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SUV.
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Sgt. Rich Aloy said the drugs were “dangerous” and the bust is a result of investigators’ pursuit of meth-related cases.
“People on meth are ‘scary’ to deal with said Johnson,” pointing out they are often violent and paranoid.
Jones is being held under a $115,000 bond.
Johnson said more arrests are expected in the case.
