West Palm Beach Police Announces Operation Old School

Published on December 11, 2025

West Palm Beach Police Badge
West Palm Beach Police Announces Operation Old School, Dismantles Major Narcotics Trafficking Organization

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (December 11, 2025) -- The West Palm Beach Police Department today announced the successful dismantling of one of the most entrenched drug trafficking organizations operating within the City of West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County. The takedown was the result of Operation Old School, a long-term investigation led by the Department’s Special Investigations Division with assistance from multiple county, state, and federal partners.

The investigation began in June 2023 in response to a record number of fentanyl overdose deaths in West Palm Beach and surrounding communities. Detectives identified the organization as the primary source of fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficked from West Palm Beach, Belle Glade, and the region.

As part of the early investigative phase, West Palm Beach Police Department detectives and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agents jointly applied for funding through the SAFE Grant, which helped support the extensive surveillance and investigative work that followed. Over the course of 24 months, investigators identified the hierarchy of the criminal enterprise, including high-ranking members and numerous street-level dealers.

On December 8, 2025, the West Palm Beach Police Department, along with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Marshals Service, and FDLE, executed 13 simultaneous search warrants as part of a coordinated enforcement operation.

The head of the organization consisted of eight individuals who now face charges including Racketeering and Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (RICO), along with 56 additional felony counts. An additional 25 lower-level associates are being charged with 53 felony offenses related to drug trafficking, narcotics sales, obstruction, and weapons violations.

The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly $179,000 in U.S. currency, nine handguns with various ammunition, and several vehicles. Investigators recovered significant quantities of narcotics, including:

  • 7.3 lbs. of fentanyl
  • 3 lbs. of cocaine
  • 18 grams of black-tar heroin
  • 250 grams of PCP
  • 1.5 lbs. of methamphetamine
  • 154 grams of oxycodone
  • 14.5 grams of Xanax
  • 6.6 lbs. of marijuana

Drug manufacturing equipment was also seized, including cutting agents, and baggies and capsules prepared for sale.

"We remain committed to investigating any information that leads to the arrest of individuals involved in the sale, distribution, or use of illegal narcotics within our city," said West Palm Beach Chief of Police Tony Araujo. "By working closely with our county, state, and federal partners, we are dedicated to keeping the streets of West Palm Beach safe for all."

Operation Old School represents a major step forward in addressing the drug overdose crisis and dismantling violent criminal enterprises that threaten the safety of residents in West Palm Beach and across Palm Beach County.

###

 

Rachel Leitao

Public Information Officer

pdpio@wpb.org

Tagged as:
Back to top