MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. – A traveling group of thieves targeting farmland across Florida ran into law enforcement in Martin County and ended up in custody instead of with a haul of stolen berries.
The organized crime ring had been surveilling property near SW Citrus Blvd. when Martin County Agricultural Unit detectives, along with Special Investigations Division Detectives and the Aviation Unit, intercepted the suspects. The operation resulted in a “berry rumble” as all 11 suspects resisted arrest, requiring multiple taser deployments before they were safely taken into custody.
Authorities recovered 6,000 pounds of stolen berries and seized journals detailing potential future targets, revealing the broader scope of the suspects’ operations. Nine of the arrested individuals were undocumented and are now under ICE detainers.
The suspects face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, and Martin County officials warned that anyone attempting to steal from local farmers risks arrest and federal detainment.
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