FMPD makes its largest-ever meth bust

FORT MYERS, Fla. Detectives have recovered what’s believed to be the largest amount of methamphetamine ever confiscated by the Fort Myers Police Department.

The bust took place Sept. 14 when detectives found 364.1 grams of methamphetamine in crystallized rock form and individually packaged orange baggies, along with 47.1 grams of marijuana, two boxes of ammunition, digital scales and drug paraphernalia in a car, police said in a press release.

Edey Cardenas, 20, and Sean Russette, 24, were arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail.

“The street value of the methamphetamine alone is estimated to be over $14,000,” police Sgt. Lesa Breneman said.

Police found the drugs after detectives responded to a call about a stolen tire, according to a police. A woman told police the tire, rim, hubcap and lug nuts were missing from her car, which she’d parked at work.

The woman’s children told police they noticed a Toyota parked next to their mother’s with a donut spare tire and two men standing next to it — one holding a lug wrench or tire iron — before their mother’s tire disappeared, police said.

Det. Charles Newell and National Guard Specialist Frank Ullua found a 2016 Toyota with Cardenas and Russette, along with a girl, standing outside of it and noticed a tire jack on the ground and a driver side tire that did not have a hub cap on it, police said.

Police found the drugs inside the car, they said. Cardenas, Russette and the girl were detained for questioning. The girl was released to her grandmother.

Police didn’t say where they found the Toyota. The tire was reported missing on the 2200 block of Winkler Avenue.