In a coordinated crackdown on drug trafficking, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) has carried out a major operation leading to the seizure of a significant quantity of narcotics and the arrest of two individuals. On June 5, the SJSO's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), aided by SWAT and other specialized units, executed a narcotics search warrant at a St. Augustine residence, according to a social media post by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. The address in question is 595 Madeore Street.
The raid successfully uncovered illegal substances including 4 ounces of methamphetamine, 17.5 grams of fentanyl, and 2.2 grams of suspected ketamine, as well as an arsenal comprising 7 firearms alongside drug paraphernalia and ammunition. The SJSO social media post listed the detailed inventory of the haul. The operation was to effectively disrupt the local drug trade which has been beleaguered the community.
Baron Long, 33, was one of the individuals caught in the operation. He was arrested and has been charged with severe offenses, which include armed trafficking of methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, maintaining a drug dwelling for purposes of trafficking, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The other suspect, Steven Jones, 30, faces charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia.
The swift action by law enforcement aims to serve as a deterrence to potential traffickers considering to set up shop in the area. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office was quick to remind the public that this raid is part of an ongoing effort to aggressively and proactively target illicit drug activities in the county. They stated on their social media post that these arrests are a clear example of the SJSO's commitment "to keep our community safe and to rid our streets of dangerous drugs."
