FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION DISMANTLED, XYLAZINE MIXTURE SEIZED Another drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilograms of fentanyl in Volusia County has been dismantled following a long-term investigation by the Volusia Bureau of Investigation and task force partners. Javoris Edwards (DOB 3/6/1987) of South Daytona, and a source of supply, Leron Willis (DOB 6/28/1987) of Deltona, are each in custody with bond amounts exceeding $2 million. The investigation began in April 2022 and involved months of surveillance, search warrants, intelligence gathering and wiretaps. During a search warrant executed in October at Edwards’ apartment at 1614 Jones St., South Daytona, agents seized more than 200 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer also known as “tranq” and “zombie drug,” which the Drug Enforcement Administration reports has become increasingly present in mixtures of heroin, cocaine and other narcotics. Xylazine has been found to cause wounds at the injection site that destroy flesh and can cause amputation of limbs. Because the drug is a sedative, not an opioid, users who overdose might not be revived by traditional reversal treatments like Narcan. “The opioid epidemic has cost too many lives already, but the introduction of fentanyl and xylazine into the supply means any dose could be your last,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “Whatever drug you’re using right now, you’re gambling with your life because you really don’t know what you’re taking.” Detectives found a large portion of the distribution activity was happening out of Edwards’ home while he was on house arrest for domestic battery. Edwards has been in custody since the October raid at his apartment. During the investigation, agents have made 11 arrests on charges including armed trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft of a firearm. They collected a total of 822g fentanyl (including the fentanyl/xylazine mixture), 328g cocaine, 100g crack cocaine, 21g methamphetamine, a small amount of MDMA, $17,280 cash, and 3 firearms, one of them reported stolen. Additional arrests are forthcoming as detectives continue their investigation into this drug trafficking organization. This investigation, known as “Operation Empire,” was a joint effort led by the Volusia Bureau of Investigation (VBI) and East Volusia Narcotics Task Force along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the State Attorney’s Office. The Volusia Bureau of Investigation is a Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative that investigates drug trafficking organizations. VBI is comprised of members from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, DeLand Police Department, Edgewater Police Department and the Ormond Beach Police Department as well as HSI and the FBI. The East Volusia Narcotics Task Force is a street level drug task force comprised of members from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Edgewater Police Department, Holly Hill Police Department, New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Ormond Beach Police Department, Port Orange Police Department, and South Daytona Police Department.