3 arrested in Mexico to Florida drug bust

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Three men were arrested and law enforcement seized more than nine pounds of crystal methamphetamine, dismantling a drug operation from Mexico to Florida.

Luis Acosta, 34, of Crescent City; Juan Espinoza, 33, of Crescent City; and Enrique Munoz, 41, of Del Rio, Texas, were arrested in Jacksonville on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute meth in an investigation dubbed Operation Glass House.

According to court documents, Acosta, Munoz, and Espinoza participated in a conspiracy to acquire and distribute methamphetamine across state lines. The methamphetamine was ultimately distributed throughout Putnam County.

Investigators said the drugs were Mexican-made and were a higher grade at a cheaper price. Their street value in all was about $750,000.

U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said this is a tremendous blow to traffickers from Mexico to the U.S.

Investigators said they intercepted a significant amount of meth before it hit the streets, and they were dismantling the organization.

The suspects face up to life in prison.

"Meth, you know, is a tremendous problem in many parts of Florida," Bentley said. "It is in Putnam County, but the operation we conducted here is a success and is going to go a long way in tamping back the problem.

"We want drug dealers bringing meth and other poisons into Putnam County to know that federal law enforcers is absolutely committed to investigating and prosecuting these individuals to the fullest extent of the law."


About the Author:

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax's 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts "This Week in Jacksonville," Channel 4's hot topics and politics public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.