Eight cartel suspects were recently arrested, and 64 pounds of fentanyl worth $4.5 million were confiscated in two separate Central Florida fentanyl drug trafficking investigations. Local law enforcement reported that it was the largest seizure in Polk County history.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force conducted two separate multi-agency undercover investigations into fentanyl drug trafficking, which resulted in the arrests of eight people linked to two different Mexican cartels: the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Transnational Criminal Organizations.
Law enforcement confiscated 29 pounds of fentanyl during an investigation into the Jalisco Cartel and 35 pounds of fentanyl from the Sinaloa Cartel, the county’s greatest seizure during a single investigation. Back-to-back operations highlight the continuous threat presented by international drug traffickers.
The following agencies collaborated on the Sinaloa Cartel investigation: the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa and Phoenix Offices; the United States Border Patrol; the Auburndale Police Department; the Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit; and the United States Postal Inspection Service from the Tampa and Phoenix offices.
The State Financial Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) Florida Program, managed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, assisted in the Central Florida investigation. In 2023, the Florida Legislature approved state financing for the S.A.F.E. program to conduct investigations against unlawful fentanyl trafficking. The funding covers acceptable fentanyl-related investigative costs such as overtime, travel, materials 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,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “We will continue to go after these criminals to reduce the flow of these deadly drugs into the United States and Florida.”
SINALOA
Police arranged pill shipments to Polk County during the early phases of the investigation. Between July 2024 and January 2025, the source shipped six shipments of fentanyl pills to Polk County, yielding an initial seizure of about 17 pounds of fentanyl tablets.
On April 28, 2025, undercover investigators met 43-year-old Regina Headspeth in a Lakeland hotel parking lot, where she supplied them with about 9 pounds of fentanyl tablets in exchange for a $55,000 SAFE payment. Following a car stop in Phoenix, Arizona, the JPEG Group of the HSI Sells Office recovered the money from Headspeth. The PCSO issued a warrant for her arrest and captured her in Arizona on June 19, 2025.
On June 13, 2025, detectives prepared for Adrian Francisco Munguia, 24, to come from Sonora, Mexico, to Florida to make a fentanyl deal with undercover detectives. The transaction was postponed, and on June 17, 2025, Munguia delivered 9 pounds of fentanyl from Daytona Beach to Polk County. Detectives confronted Munguia, who had supplied around 9 pounds of fentanyl. Munguia was no stranger to the undercover detectives, having previously come in from Arizona to Florida to collect the unpaid payment for the 4-kilogram deal with Headspeth on April 28.
Munguia was seized by an arrest team that included PCSO investigators, FDLE, HSI, and US Customs and Border Protection Special Agents.
Adrian Francisco Munguia has been charged with trafficking over 28 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic over 28 grams of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Regina Lynn Headspeth has been charged with trafficking fentanyl in excess of 28 grams, possessing drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a vehicle for drug trafficking.
JALISCO
Another large fentanyl trafficking investigation was conducted earlier this year, during which PCSO officers detained six members of the Mexican drug cartel Jalisco New Generation. The inquiry resulted in the seizure of about 29 pounds of fentanyl, some of which was being smuggled inside phony car batteries to avoid detection.
The following agencies collaborated on this investigation: the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the United States Border Patrol, the Auburndale Police Department, the Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, Clayton County Police (Georgia), the Forest Park Police Department (Georgia), and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, Atlanta, and Birmingham offices.
A drug supplier from Michoacan, Mexico, told undercover police about a drug stash house in Atlanta, Georgia, where drugs were supplied and sold. In April 2025, 51-year-old Adalberto Diaz flew from California to Tampa and planned to drive to Jonesboro, Georgia, to obtain one kilogram of fentanyl, which he would then bring to Polk County to sell to undercover investigators. Diaz arranged transportation fees with the undercover detectives. Diaz traveled to Jonesboro, Georgia, then returned to Polk County to deliver one kilogram of fentanyl. SAFE money was used to complete this transaction. Diaz instructed the investigators to call him if they needed him to carry or deliver any further drugs to or from them. He then went back to California via Tampa.
The next week, the same Mexican narcotics source contacted PCSO undercover officers about delivering 11 pounds of fentanyl concealed within a car battery to Jonesboro, GA. Special Agents of HSI Atlanta observed a battery exchange, with Gerardo Valencia Cervantes receiving the battery. During a traffic stop on Cervantes, local police agencies and HSI agents seized a battery containing 11 pounds of fentanyl stashed inside. HSI seized two more kilograms of fentanyl from Cervantes in the Jonesboro, GA, region.
In May 2025, the supplier promised to ship 11 pounds of fentanyl from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to Polk County. The supplier arranged for a drug courier to deliver the fentanyl and a separate courier to pick up the money. Gloria Trujillo Duque, 44, arrived to broker the 11-pound transaction and receive the money. After counting the money used to acquire the pills, she phoned 46-year-old Miguel Estrada to transport the fentanyl to a motel. Estrada transported the cocaine hidden inside a car battery, aided by his cousin, 40-year-old Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez. Gloria, Maria, and Estrada were captured, and the drugs were confiscated.
Days before, undercover police negotiated with Adalberto Diaz to deliver two (about 4.4 pounds) of the five kilos (11 pounds) to South Florida for a $5,000 transportation charge. Diaz and his daughter, Alejandrina Diaz, 30, traveled in from California and met detectives in Polk County, where they took possession of the two kilograms they were meant to deliver but were promptly arrested. During these two investigations, 29 kilograms (64 pounds) of fentanyl were confiscated, including 160,000 fentanyl pills and 13 kilos of powdered fentanyl.
Gloria Trujillo Duque was charged with trafficking over 28 grams of fentanyl and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez has been charged with trafficking fentanyl in excess of 28 grams, possessing drug paraphernalia, and keeping a vehicle for narcotics trafficking.
Miguel Angel Estrada has been charged with trafficking fentanyl in excess of 28 grams, possessing drug paraphernalia, and keeping a vehicle for narcotics trafficking.
Adalberto Diaz was charged with two counts of trafficking fentanyl in excess of 28 grams, two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, and keeping a vehicle for narcotics trafficking.
Alejandrina Diaz was charged with trafficking over 28 grams of fentanyl and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Gerardo Valencia Cervantes was charged with trafficking over 28 grams of fentanyl.
