Pasco drug sweep nets dozens

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County vice narcotics detectives say there has been a significant increase in the number of people trying to sell prescription drugs on the black market.

Monday, dozens of people accused of trying to sell drugs like Oxycodone were arrested.

"Our detectives have arrested approximately 62 individuals to date, result(ing) in somewhere around 170 cases," said Sheriff Bob White.

The undercover operation actually began six months ago when detectives broke up a large "doctor shopping" ring in Hudson. In that case, an auto body shop was in fact a front for an operation where people would buy and sell prescription drugs.

Since January detectives have seized more than 11,000 individual doses of legally purchased drugs headed for the black market.

Sheriff White said people will fake an injury to get the pills.

"Then go to the doctor and complain about different types of pain. They'll get a 90-day supply of drugs or 30-day supply of drugs. They'll in turn sell those drugs on the street for 10 to 15 dollars a pill," Sheriff White said.

Sheriff White said the sale of legally purchased painkillers on the black market is becoming a unique problem in the Sunshine State. He said people will come from northern states with a list of pharmacies and drugs they want to purchase, then will drive the pills back up north.

"Florida is one of the key states for doctors shopping," White said.

In Monday's sweep, however, most of the people arrested where from Pasco County.