HERNANDO – Deputies from Lake and Hernando County Sheriff’s offices seized almost 200 pounds of marijuana during an investigation.
The investigation led agents from both sheriff’s departments as well as U.S. Customers and Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration to believe that a large amount of marijuana was being flown into the Central Florida area from California.
The multi-jurisdictional task force worked together to intercept the aircraft as it landed at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport on Monday night according to the release.
Task force agents made contact with two men on board the airplane who were uncooperative.
After executing a search warrant, agents recovered approximately 197 pounds of marijuana packaged in duffle bags. The marijuana along with the airplane and a late-model Ford F-150 pickup truck were seized as a result.
“This is a great example of inter-agency cooperation and we couldn’t be more proud of all the hard work that went into this operation,” said Sheriff Peyton Grinnell of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants for the two men that were on board the airplane, 32-year-old Joshua Overton and 38-year-old Aaron Andrus.
It is unclear at this time whether or not the two men are in custody.
