Canine Extreme German Shepherds

On August 27, 2010 Detectives from the Special Investigations Division conducted a highway interdiction operation at the weigh station scales in Islamorada. Participating in the operation was the Traffic Enforcement Division, troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol and there K-9 Unit, The Department of Transportation, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, The Mobile Enforcement Team, The Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Monroe County HIDTA, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

During the operation Agents deployed the VACIS system which was operated by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems (VACIS) is currently being used throughout ports, concentrating on the southern tier of the United States. VACIS, a gamma ray imaging system, uses radiographic images to help Inspectors examine the contents of trucks, containers, cargo, and passenger vehicles for hidden compartments containing contraband. The system was developed in 2000 as a joint project between the U.S. Customs Service, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Department of Defense.

During the Interdiction Agents officers and Detectives worked together in locating contraband and other violations. A simultaneous interdiction was also conducted on US-1 from mile marker 80 to mile marker 93.

On the first traffic stop of the operations, Narcotics detectives pulled over a vehicle with 3 occupants that were later identified as Thomas Council, Howie Schnieder, and Patrick Stickney. Narcotics K-9 Deja gave a positive alert to the vehicle. Detectives then located 139 grams of crack cocaine, 87 grams of powder cocaine, 12 grams of marijuana, 5 xanax pills, and seized $2047 in possible drug proceeds. Council and Schnieder were charged with Trafficking in cocaine, Stickney was charged with possession of marijuana. All three were booked into the Monroe County Jail.

During the Interdiction officers made 151 stops, issued 84 citations, conducted 31 K-9 searches, conducted 7 VACIS inspections( Vehicle and Cargo Inspection system), Issued 4 notice to appear for narcotics, 9 arrest for undocumented workers, and made 3 drug arrest.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Located two trucks that contained over 300 pounds of Shark meat, two Sail Fish and over $5000 in whole lobsters. Their investigation on the undocumented seafood is on-going.