ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than a dozen people are facing serious charges in a multi-agency narcotics operation and dog fighting ring bust.

What You Need To Know

  • A total of 13 people were arrested on drug trafficking charges and quite a large supply of narcotics were seized in a drug bust

  • More than 100 dogs were also recovered in a dog fighting ring bust

  • 'Operation Snow Cap' and 'Operation Pedigree' began last summer when the Pinellas Sheriff's Office received a tip of drug trafficking in the area

  • This investigation is ongoing and Sheriff Bob Gualtieri anticipates more arrests to be made

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and St. Pete Police held a press conference on the year long investigations known as known as ‘Operation Snow Cap’ and ‘Operation Pedigree.’

Detectives say the year-long investigation has also led to the seizure of drugs, guns and dogs.

A total of 13 people were arrested on drug trafficking charges.

It began last summer when the sheriff’s office received a tip of drug trafficking in the Pinellas County area, but detectives say the whole operation goes way further across county lines. The source of supply, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says, came from Los Angeles.

Drugs — including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl — were being shipped via FedEx and UPS to an address in Brandon.

Deputies say this investigation led to the discovery of a dog-fighting ring connected to the drug trafficking. These dog fights took place in Hillsborough and Manatee counties, as well as in the state of Georgia. A total of 111 dogs were recovered during the operation.

“It shows that we’ve got a really, really serious drug problem in this country and, what it comes from, is there’s too many drugs coming in and we know where they’re coming from,” said Gualtieri. “They’re coming, primarily, from the border. This is a significant issue that we face throughout the country.”

“We got time on our side,” said St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway. “What I mean by that is- we may not get you today, we may not get you tomorrow but sooner or later we’re going to come knocking on your door or we’re going to flashbang your door and we’re going to take you out of Pinellas County because we do not want that in our area.”

The sheriff mentioned fentanyl was the main connector between these two operations. And those dogs that were recovered, Holloway said, will be put up for adoption.

This investigation is ongoing, and the sheriff anticipates more arrests to be made.