What started as a visit to a budget motel in Arcadia turned into a major narcotics bust, as DeSoto County detectives arrested a man at the Economy Inn and hauled away what the sheriff’s office described as a substantial cache of suspected methamphetamine and cocaine. Investigators say the stash ranged from large containers of drugs to individually wrapped packages, along with tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
Detectives say they found a large, multilayered stash
In a DeSoto County Sheriff's Office post, detectives said they obtained arrest warrants on May 12 and tracked down Imamu Gilchrist at the Economy Inn the next day, May 13. The seizure was listed as including about 24.619 pounds of methamphetamine, roughly 3.5 pounds of cocaine that investigators say included a roughly 2.2-pound kilogram "brick," a half-pound of crack cocaine, 19 individually packaged bags of powder cocaine and multiple "cookies" and food-storage containers that deputies suspect were holding narcotics.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators also collected $41,000 in U.S. currency and numerous empty baggies that they said are commonly used for drug distribution.
How investigators say the stop unfolded
Authorities said members of the narcotics unit used a free-air sniff and a K-9 during the stop. The agency’s website notes that an Investigations K-9 team routinely assists with narcotics work, and this case was no exception.
According to the sheriff’s post, detectives reported smelling the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, which they say led them to conduct what they described as a lawful search of the vehicle and related property. That search is what they say uncovered the motel room stash.
Legal status and next steps
The sheriff’s Facebook post says arrest warrants were granted May 12 and that Gilchrist is being housed in the DeSoto County Jail; the post did not list formal charges at the time it was published.
Sheriff James Potter, quoted in the post, said the seizure "highlights the relentless work" of narcotics detectives and underscored the office’s commitment to keeping illegal drugs off DeSoto County streets.
Where this fits in the wider crackdown
Local officials cast the motel operation as another piece of a broader push to disrupt drug supply routes feeding communities across Florida. The Florida Attorney General’s Office has announced multi-agency takedowns this year that resulted in seizures of dozens of pounds of methamphetamine, a reminder of the volume of trafficking investigators say they are confronting statewide; see the Attorney General’s announcement for more details.
The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to contact the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office at (863) 993-4700 or to submit an anonymous tip through tip411. Detectives said they will keep processing evidence and following leads as the case moves through the courts.
