Suspects in Collier drug bust appear in court

NAPLES, Fla.- A group of suspected drug dealers in Collier County could spend decades in jail.

All 17 suspects arrested were charged with either trafficking heroin or conspiracy to traffic heroin or cocaine. If convicted, those charges each carry 30 year prison sentences.

Only 10 of the suspects arrested appeared before a judge Thursday afternoon, the others refused which they have the right to do.

Their bonds were all previously set, some as high as $2.5 million.

During Wednesday’s drug sweep, deputies seized a variety of drugs including $120,000 worth of heroin, guns and cash. Authorities say the drug trafficking operation would have brought more than $2 million worth of heroin to Southwest Florida streets.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is far from over and more arrests could come as detectives work to locate one more key player.