JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville detectives have investigated more than 220 overdose deaths in 2025 and have arrested 17 drug dealers on manslaughter charges in connection with some of those cases, Sheriff T.K. Waters announced Tuesday.
Waters said the work of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Vice Section to get those drug dealers and their “poison” off the streets has contributed to a “significant drop” in overdose deaths this year, compared to the last several years.
According to Waters, JSO overdose death investigations have dropped by more than half since 2022. Here are the numbers he provided:
- 2022: 472
- 2023: 433
- 2024: 317
- 2025: 221
“Given the significant decline in overdose deaths this year, whether it’s causation or correlation, the fact remains that JSO’s proactive narcotics investigations are preventing deaths,” Waters said. “Every dose of illegal narcotics that is seized by law enforcement is a potential life saved.”
This comes as JSO confirms fewer drugs are coming into Jacksonville. The agency said many drugs historically come from outside the country and this plays into national discussions on border security and the sinking of Venezuelan drug boats by U.S. forces.
“We have seen a reduction of drugs flowing into Jacksonville. And with multiple operations that are ongoing by our undercover and vice sections, we’re trying to combat those on a daily basis,” said Director of Homeland Security and Investigations Ed Cayenne.
WATCH: Click below to watch a replay of the sheriff’s full news conference
Waters shared the following approximate numbers for drug seizures by the Narcotics Unit this year, and their estimated street values:
- 20 kilograms of fentanyl: $638,000
- 60 kilograms of powder cocaine: $1.1 million
- 3.4 kilograms of crack cocaine: $56,000
- 25 pounds of methamphetamine: $33,000
- 3,300 pounds of cannabis: $5 million
Waters acknowledged efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida but said that until voters do that, “we’re going to enforce it the way that the statute says we enforce it.”
During the news conference, Waters repeatedly praised Jacksonville citizens for reporting drug activity in their own communities.
“So many of our narcotics investigations are spearheaded by concerned citizens making complaints or sharing information about suspicious activity,” Waters said. “Communication between the public and the police is at the heart of community policing. We simply cannot do the important work we do in law enforcement without the involvement of the public that we serve.”
Waters said anyone concerned about potential drug activity can contact JSO at 904-630-0500, Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or even reach out directly to the Narcotics Unit at 904-630-2163.
“They don’t ever have to be divulged,” Waters said, encouraging citizens that they can remain anonymous, even if they are reporting a neighbor. “You can tell us that you don’t want us to come by your house, and we will not do that.”
Waters also highlighted the number of guns seized during drug investigations, saying that “where there are drugs, there’s also deadly violence.”
“This agency targets and dismantles drug operations, not only to remove the poison that fuels addiction, but also to remove the accelerant, which ignites violence in our community,” Waters said, adding that 177 crime guns were seized during narcotics investigations this year. “Those are 177 firearms that will not be able to be used to kill or injure members of this community.”
Waters said issues with drugs are not confined to a specific area of town.
“Illegal drugs affect a lot of people all over the map, and there’s no specific neighborhood where it’s happening,” Waters said. “It’s just we’re seeing a decrease, which is really good.”