Before much of Volusia County had flipped on a coffee maker Tuesday, the east side was already crawling with deputies and Daytona Beach officers. In a coordinated predawn sweep, law enforcement hit multiple locations tied to what investigators say is a violent drug operation connected to fatal overdoses and a string of shootings. Roughly a dozen people were arrested, and deputies say they are still hunting for about 50 additional suspects.
Search warrants were served at 10 properties, but one address in particular drew extra attention: a home beside Greater Harvest Ministries in Holly Hill that investigators say doubled as a stash house for guns and narcotics. According to WKMG ClickOrlando, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the home is owned by the church’s pastor and added, “There's no way the good pastor there didn't know what her son was up to.”
The investigation has been simmering for about a year and, officials say, relied heavily on an FBI wiretap that helped them connect fatal overdoses and multiple shootings to the same alleged network. WFTV Channel 9 reports deputies warned that more than 50 people are expected to be rounded up as part of the operation, which they say is tied to several deadly overdoses and shootings across the county.
How investigators say the case came together
Detectives say the case did not crack overnight. Tips from neighbors, along with surveillance footage, helped them document what they describe as a steady flow of armed individuals in and out of the Holly Hill property. The FBI was later brought in to bolster the probe. The sheriff’s office and Daytona Beach police used a specific moniker for the target group in internal briefings, according to WKMG ClickOrlando, underscoring that investigators viewed it as an organized crew rather than a loose collection of dealers.
Arrests and next steps
By late Tuesday morning, about a dozen suspects were already in custody, and deputies told WFTV Channel 9 they expect to track down the remaining wanted individuals over the coming days. Formal charging documents have not yet been released, and officials say detectives will keep an eye on locations flagged during the investigation while they work to bring in the rest of the suspects.
Sheriff’s officials publicly thanked residents whose tips helped fuel the case and urged anyone with additional information to get in touch with investigators. For the latest updates and contact details, visit the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
