Central Florida 

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 

2005 Annual Report

Director William T. Fernandez 

1345 28th Street 

Sanford, Florida 32773 

Phone: 407-585-2687 

Fax: 407-585-2725

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 1 
CENTRAL FLORIDA HIDTA 

2005 ANNUAL REPORT 

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

2005 saw a change in focus for many Central Florida HIDTA enforcement initiatives brought about by an 

increasing and shifting methamphetamine problem and a decrease in the purity of heroin and heroin deaths. 

2005 experienced an increase in methamphetamine laboratory seizures from ninety-three (93) in 2004 to one 

hundred and forty-four (144) in 2005. 2005 saw the movement of these “Mom and Pop” labs from Polk and 

Osceola counties into Brevard and Volusia Counties on the east side of the state with increased activity in 

Pasco County on the west side of the state. June of 2005 saw the enactment of precursor legislation limiting 

access to certain precursor chemicals. This could account for the movement in methamphetamine activity. 

Several large seizures of methamphetamine during the year were the result of the disruption and/or 

dismantlement of Mexican led Drug Trafficking Organizations, many with a nexus to the city of Atlanta, 

Georgia. Mexican led DTO’s trafficking in all drugs and specifically methamphetamine appear to be on the 

rise. The Central Florida HIDTA continues to see a decrease in heroin deaths with sixty-four (64) in 2004 

and twenty (20) for the first six months of 2005. This decrease is attributed to several factors. While law 

enforcement efforts certainly played a part, the continued decrease in heroin purity levels (35% - 55%) and 

improved EMT abilities also contributed to the decline. Pharmaceutical drug abuse continues to plague 

Central Florida with the largest part of the problem in Pinellas County. 

II. INTRODUCTION 

This report will reflect the accomplishments of the Central Florida HIDTA achieved during 2005 and how 

those accomplishments compare to previously projected goals. This report will also capture data in 2005 

from which drug trends can be identified and future efforts and resources directed. These trends may 

include, but are not limited to, changes in drug prices, geographic movement of drugs, and changes in drug 

origin. The identification of these changing trends and drug patterns is vital in forming a strong, 

comprehensive, and cost effective strategy to address the future drug threat. This process is essential to the 

HIDTA Mission to enhance and facilitate the coordination of America’s drug-control efforts among federal, 

state, and local law enforcement agencies in order to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking and harmful 

consequences in critical regions of the United States. This mission includes coordinating efforts to reduce 

the production, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, and chronic use of illegal drugs, as well as the 

attendant money laundering of drug proceeds. 

CENTRAL FLORIDA HIDTA VISION STATEMENT 

Improving the quality of life in Central Florida by reducing drug availability, use, and resulting 

crime through the effective disruption and dismantling of dug trafficking organizations impacting 

Central Florida and other areas of the United States. 

CENTRAL FLORIDA HIDTA MISSION STATEMENT 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 2 
The effective disruption and dismantling of local, regional, and international drug trafficking 

organizations, as measured by the PMP, utilizing a balanced partnership of local, state, and federal 

representatives. 

Central Florida HIDTA & 

Surrounding Counties 

The Central Florida HIDTA, designated in November 1997, consists of seven (7) counties (green) 

surrounded by ten (10) contiguous counties. This report covers the period January to December 2005. 

The Central Florida HIDTA received its annual budget of 2.52 million and an additional 150 thousand in 

supplemental funding (mid-level heroin) during that period. 

III. HIDTA GOALS 

Goal 1 

Disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling or disrupting drug trafficking and/or money 

laundering organizations. 

The dismantlement and disruption of drug trafficking organizations determines the overall success of the 

HIDTA program. A constant focus on Goal 1, with conscientious monitoring of results and sharing of 

intelligence is crucial to the HIDTA effort. The Central Florida HIDTA strives to accomplish Goal 1 

through the multi-agency cooperative efforts of seven (7) poly-drug, and two (2) drug specific task forces. 

These task forces utilize the Central Florida HIDTA Investigative Support Center. The Central Florida 

HIDTA also utilizes a fugitive specific task force to address drug and violent crime. (see tables 1 and 4) 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 3 
Goal 2 

Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIDTA initiatives. 

The Central Florida HIDTA addresses Goal 2 through a quarterly evaluation of each initiative and its 

performance during that respective quarter. Daily use of the Central Florida HIDTA Investigative Support 

Center also addresses Goal 2 through the recognition of initiatives working similar targets and advising of 

those efforts thereby making better use of funding. 

IV. SUMMARY OF THREAT ASSESSMENT FOR BUDGET YEAR 2005 

The 2005 Threat Assessment stated that all law enforcement agencies participating in the 2005 TA survey 

indicated that cocaine, both powder and crack, continued to be the number one illicit drug problem. Those 

agencies also stated that use and production of methamphetamine was the emerging threat specifically in 

Polk and Osceola counties. Heroin use was expected to decline but prescription drug use was on the rise. It 

was believed that the two (2) trends were related. 

V. HIDTA STRATEGY SUMMARY 

The strategy of the Central Florida HIDTA is overseen by a fifteen (15) member Executive Board using 

three (3) sub-committees and implementing the strategy through four (4) subsystems ; Intelligence, 

Investigative, Support, and Interdiction. Thirteen (13) multi-agency task forces comprise the four (4) 

subsystems. 

VI. HIDTA PERFORMANCE MEASURES 

A. Performance Measure for Goal 1 

1. Core Table 1 – DTOs and MLOs Disrupted or Dismantled for 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 4 
2. Core Table 2 – Percentage of DTOs and MLOs Disrupted or Dismantled by scope for 2005 

3. Core Table 3 – Percentage of Money Laundering Organizations Disrupted or Dismantled by 

Scope for 2005 

4. Core Table 4 – Operational Scope of all DTO Cases initiated for 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 5
5. Core Table 5 – Drugs Removed from Marketplace for 2005 

6. Core Table 6 – Return on Investment (ROI) for Drugs Removed from the Marketplace by law 

Enforcement Initiatives for 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 6 
7. Core Table 7 – Return on Investment (ROI) for Assets Removed from the Marketplace by 

Law Enforcement Initiatives for 2005 

8. Core Table 8 – Total Return on Investment (ROI) for Drugs and Assets Removed from the 

Marketplace 

9. Core Table 9 – Prosecution Outputs and Outcomes by Year 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 7 
10. Core Table 10 – Value of Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratories Dismantled by Size 

for Year 2005, at Central Florida HIDTA 

11. Core Table 11- HIDTA Clandestine Laboratory Activities, 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 8
B. Performance Measures for Goal 2

1. Core Table 12 – HIDTA Training Efficiency and Type of Training for 2005 

2. Core Table 13 – Percentage of HIDTA Initiatives Using Event and Case Deconfliction 

Services for 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 9
3. Core Table 14 – Percentage of Event and Case Deconflictions submitted for 2005 

4. Core Table 15 – Percentage of Investigations Provided Analytical Support for 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 10
5. Core Table 16 – HIDTA Initiative Cases Referred to Other HIDTAs and Other 

Agencies for 2005 

VII. CONCLUSIONS 

The Central Florida HIDTA enjoyed a very productive year in 2005. In an effort to achieve Goal 1 the 

Central Florida HIDTA targeted eighty-seven (87) Drug Trafficking Organizations. Thirty-six (36) of these 

organizations were dismantled with an additional thirty (30) being disrupted. These figures represent 

seventy-six percent (76%) of the Drug Trafficking Organizations identified in 2005. Approximately one 

third of those organizations dismantled were international in scope. In 2005 the Central Florida HIDTA 

seized drugs with a wholesale value exceeding forty-six (46) million dollars which produced a return of 

twenty (20) dollars for every dollar invested. In excess of twenty-three (23) million dollars of drug related 

assets were seized which reflects a ten (10) to one (1) ROI. Efforts toward accomplishing Goal 2 are 

reflected in Core tables 12 through 16 and the continued quarterly evaluation process of all Central Florida 

HIDTA Initiatives on both sides of the state. Training costs for analytical and computer courses were 

reduced by 71% with an increase of 38% in the number of students trained. The costs of training in the 

investigation and interdiction area increased by 77% but the number of students trained increased by over 

300 %. This was accomplished by utilizing the enforcement initiatives to conduct training in their area of 

expertise. Two performance targets were not met in 2005. Only 80% of the initiatives utilized the case and 

event deconfliction process. This has been addressed by the Intelligence Committee and brought before the 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 11 
Executive Board. It is anticipated that 100% of the Central Florida HIDTA Task Forces will de-conflict in 

the future. The second Performance Target not met was Core Table 15 – Percentage of Cases provided 

Analytical Support. The Central Florida HIDTA ISC provided support to 76% of those cases requesting 

support. This is a result of support gaps created by National Guard personnel being called to active duty and 

the loss of HIDTA contract personnel seeking other employment. 

VIII. APPENDICES 

A. Central Florida HIDTA Table of Organization 

B. Table listing composition of Executive Board showing local, state and federal affiliation 

C. List of participating agencies 

D. List of counties participating in the HIDTA 

A. Table of Organization for the Central Florida HIDTA 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

ONDCP/National HIDTA 

Central Florida Executive Board 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 12 

William T. Fernandez 

Director 

Intelligence 

Subsystem 

Rick Scovel 

Co ISC 

Director 

Deputy 

AL 

Ducharme 

Co ISC 

Director 

Central Florida 

Investigative Support 

Center 

Investigative 

Subsystem 

Support 

Subsystem 

Interdiction 

Subsystem 

Heroin 

Task 

Force 

Fugitive Apprehension 

Strike Team 

Polk 

County 

Poly 

Osceola 

County 

Colombian/ 

South American 

Methamphetamine 

Task Force 

Pinellas County 

City/County 

Investigative Bureau 

Metropolitan Bureau 

of Investigations 

Management & 

Coordination 

Training 

Amara Serrano-Kirby 

Training Coordinator 

Metropolitan Bureau 

of Investigations 

City/County 

 Investigative 

Bureau 

Volusia Investigative 

Bureau 

Amara Serrano-Kirby 

Executive Assistant 

Loretta Feinman 

Financial Analyst 

Rebecca Collins 

Receptionist 
B. Table listing composition of Executive Board showing local, state and federal affiliation 

Federal Participants: 

United States Marshal Service 

United States Attorney’s Office 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms 

Internal Revenue Service 

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement 

State Participants: 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 

Local Participants: 

Volusia County Sheriff’s Office 

Seminole County Sheriff’s Office 

Winter Park Police Department (Representing Orange County Sheriff’s Office) 

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office 

Polk County Sheriff’s Office 

Tampa Police Department 

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 13 
C. List of participating agencies 

Federal: 

Amtrak Police 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Internal Revenue Service 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

United States Border Patrol 

United States Marshals Service 

State/Local: 

Altamonte Springs Police Department Winter Park Police Department 

Apopka Police Department Winter Springs Police Department 

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office 

Casselberry Police Department 

Clearwater Police Department 

Clermont Police Department 

Daytona Beach Police Department 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 

Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco 

Florida National Guard, Counterdrug Program 

Haines City Police Department 

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office 

Kissimmee Police Department 

Lake County Sheriff’s Office 

Lake Mary Police Department 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 14 
a HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 15

Lakeland Police Department 

New Smyrna Beach Police Department 

Ocoee Police Department 

Orange County Sheriff’s Office 

Orlando Police Department 

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office 

Oviedo Police Department 

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office 

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office 

Polk County Sheriff’s Office 

Port Orange Police Department 

Sanford Police Department 

Seminole County Sheriff’s Office 

St. Cloud Police Department 

St. Petersburg Police Department 

State Attorney’s Office 

Tampa Police Department 

Volusia County Sheriff’s Office 

Winter Haven Police Department 

D. List of counties participating in the HIDTA 

Seven (7) counties located in central Florida: 

Polk County Hillsborough County 

Pinellas County Osceola County 

Orange County Seminole County 

Central Florid 

Volusia County Lake County* 

 Brevard County* 
* Participating but not designated as part of the CFHIDTA. 

IX. List of Tables and Charts 

Table 1 – DTOs and MLOs Disrupted or Dismantled, 2005.......................................................... 3 

Table 2 - Percentage of DTOs Disrupted or Dismantled by Scope, 2005 ...................................... 4 

Table 3 - Percentage of MLOs Disrupted or Dismantled by Scope, 2005 ..................................... 4 

Table 4 - Operational Scope of All DTO Cases Initiated, 2005 ..................................................... 4 

Table 5 - Drugs Removed from the Marketplace, 2005 ................................................................. 5 

Table 6 - Return on Investment (ROI) for Drugs Removed from the Marketplace by Law Enforcement 

Initiatives, 2005....................................................................................................................... 5 

Table 7 - Return on Investment (ROI) for Assets Removed from the Marketplace by Law Enforcement 

Initiatives, 2005....................................................................................................................... 6 

Table 8 - Total Return on Investment (ROI) for Drugs and Assets Removed from the Marketplace by Law 

Enforcement Initiatives, 2005................................................................................................. 6

Table 13 - Percentage of HIDTA Initiatives Using Event and Case Deconfliction Services,2005.8 

......9 

Table 9 - Prosecution Outputs and Outcomes, 2005....................................................................... 6 

Table 10 - Value of Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs Dismantled in 2005, by Size ............... 7 

Table 11 - Clandestine Laboratory Activities, 2005....................................................................... 7 

Table 12 – CFHIDTA Training Efficiency by Year and Type of Training.................................... 8 

Table 14 - Percentage of Event and Case Deconflictions Submitted, 2005 ................................... 9 

Table 15 - Percentage of Investigations Provided Analytical Support, 2005................................. 9 

Table 16 - Percentage of CFHIDTA Initiative Case Referred to Other HIDTAs and Other Agencies, 2005 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 16
X. Endnotes - Cite the sources of essential information referenced in this report. 

Central Florida HIDTA 2005 Annual Report 17