JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday they had recovered enough fentanyl for 1 million fatal doses, and other drugs following a long-term investigation.

Flanked by St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, and members of FDLE, FHP and the State Attorney’s Office, JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters said search warrants and traffic stops led to extensive seizures of drugs as part of “Operation Jacob’s Ladder,” which began in late 2023. He said it’s hard to quantify the amount of “poison” removed from the streets.

Waters said the arrests stymied a drug operation that was in Texas, North Carolina and Georgia and possibly cartel-connected.

“Where there are illegal narcotics there are crime and guns,” Waters said. “When law enforcement make drug seizures we remove the poison that fuels addiction and overdoses in our community.”

Authorities seized 2.3 kg of fentanyl, 13 firearms, 74.5 kg of cocaine, 74.3 pounds of marijuana, more than 700 grams of MDMA and $212,000 in cash. 

The following 10 people were arrested:

• Esteban Martinez
• Damian Rojas
• Amelio Mack
• Walter Bassett
• Daniel Garcia
• Christopher Jones
• Romondo Hicks
• Grady Hill
• Jemani Dunn-Jennings
• Eduardo Seijas