Overview
- Authorities identified seven suspects across Palm Beach and Okeechobee counties, and five have been taken into custody: Gary Devon West, Darryl “Unc” Butler, Andres Chaves, James Thiele and Robert Townsend.
- The probe spanned Palm Beach, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade and Broward counties with cooperation from local police departments, county sheriffs and FDLE.
- Seized contraband totaled about 2,262 grams of narcotics, including roughly 300 grams of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine and 400 grams of meth, plus 500 pills, six handguns and several automatic rifles.
- Investigators say the ring trafficked fentanyl, cocaine, xylazine, psilocybin, marijuana and methamphetamine across multiple jurisdictions.
- Officials cited drug sales at West Palm Beach’s 45th Street Flea Market and reported elements extending into Virginia, with defendants facing more than two dozen drug-related charges.