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Cantonment Woman Among 21 Arrested In Statewide Drug Trafficking Investigation

Two Escambia County residents, including a woman from Cantonment, were among 21 people arrested for running drug trafficking organization from the Panhandle to South Florida, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Ashley McDaniel, age 36 of Batson Lane in Cantonment, was charged with illegal use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance. Tyshaunn Tarver, age 39 of Interstate Circle in Pensacola, was also charged with illegal use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance.

Nineteen others, most from Miami or Okaloosa County, are facing a multitude of charges in charges. Four other suspects remained at large Friday.

FDLE said the investigation dubbed “Operation Crazy 8″ showed the suspects were distributing illegal prescription drugs in Miami-Dade, Broward, Walton and Okaloosa counties.

Authorities began investigating the case after identifying a local drug ring in Okaloosa County whose members were obtaining large amounts of illegal drugs from South Florida and selling those drugs in Walton and Okaloosa counties.

“This massive drug interdiction operation will save lives and send a strong message to anyone trying to traffic opioids in our great state,” said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. “This case is just one of many examples of how seamlessly our great law enforcement partners work together to stop drug trafficking and save lives.”

“We are pleased that the statewide prosecutor has worked with law enforcement in order to make these important arrests,” said State Attorney Bill Eddins.

The drug trafficking organization is accused of selling prescription painkillers including oxycodone and hydromorphone. Some of these drugs were obtained from pain clinics in South Florida.  Investigators believe the suspects were a main source of illegal drugs in the Panhandle and South Florida as several shipments containing hundreds of illegal painkillers were intercepted by law enforcement.

The investigation and arrests were handled by te Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Offices, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Miami-Dade Police Department and members of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Task Force.