Grady Judd: Record-breaking bust nets enough fentanyl to kill 14.5 million people
Massive fentanyl bust in Polk County
FOX 13's Carla Bayron shares the work done behind the scenes to bring several drug-trafficking suspects to justice after the biggest fentanyl bust in Polk County history.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Sheriff Grady Judd says detectives in Polk County seized 64 pounds of fentanyl and arrested eight people in what the sheriff's office calls the largest fentanyl seizure in the county's history.
The backstory:
Judd says the first of two undercover investigations began in July 2024, and the cases involved Mexico's two largest cartels: Jalisco and Sinaloa. Six suspected Jalisco members and two Sinaloa members have been arrested.
A total of 29 pounds of fentanyl were seized from Jalisco and another 35 pounds were seized from Sinaloa, according to Judd – enough to kill 14.5 million people.
The sheriff's office says the 64 pounds of fentanyl carried a total value of $4.5 million.
Pictured: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaks at a news conference on June 24, 2025.
Dig deeper:
Detectives worked with investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa and Phoenix Offices, U.S. Border Patrol, Auburndale Police Department, Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service from the Tampa and Phoenix offices.
What they're saying:
At a news conference on Tuesday, Judd said the drugs were brought into the United States from Mexico and eventually arrived in Polk County – adding that much of the fentanyl was delivered in car batteries.
"These people are violent, these people want your money, and they don't care whether or not they take your life," Judd said.
Judd also commended the team effort in seizing the drugs over a period of several months.
"[The suspects] didn't care about you or your loved ones or your children, but we did," Judd said.
Still, Judd says he knows there's lots more work to be done in addressing the ongoing fentanyl crisis.
"I want you to understand that it's not over," Judd said. "We're going to continue to work together. We're going to focus on those that traffic drugs throughout the United States."
What's next:
The eight suspects in the case face the following charges:
- Adrian Francisco Munguia: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Regina Lynn Headspeth: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Gloria Trujillo Duque: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Maria Del Consuelo Alvarado Martinez: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Miguel Angel Estrada: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Adalberto Diaz: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams (two counts), possession of drug paraphernalia (two counts), maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs
- Alejandrina Diaz: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Gerardo Valencia Cervantes: Trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams
The Source: This story was written with information from a news conference held by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on June 24, 2025.
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