Five people arrested following drug bust in Florida

FLORIDA — Five people were arrested and a large cache of drugs and weapons was seized following a major drug bust at a Brentwood home, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO).

JSO narcotics detectives began investigating the home last month after receiving a tip that it was being used to distribute drugs to the downtown area.

The house is located near a church, a library, and a high school. Detectives gathered enough evidence to obtain a search warrant, which was executed last week.

Inside the home, officers found 1,200 grams of fentanyl — an amount authorities say is enough to kill more than 600,000 people, over half the population of Jacksonville. In addition to the fentanyl, officers seized:

• 1,387.2 grams of cathinone
• 492.5 grams of crack cocaine
• 165.1 grams of powder cocaine
• 115.2 grams of ecstasy
• 7.1 grams of heroin
• 6.2 pounds of marijuana

Five firearms were also recovered from the home, including one reported stolen and another with an illegal modification known as a switch.

The following individuals were arrested and are facing felony charges:

• Yahya Ali, 48
• Alshawn Martin, 47
• Bilal Ali, 20
• Tywanna Davenport, 40
• James Johnson, 54

“By shutting it down and putting the dealers behind bars, we’re making Jacksonville a safer place for you and your family,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Authorities encourage residents to report any suspicious activity by calling (904) 630-0500.