Tampa Bay fentanyl trafficker sentenced to 27 years in prison

TAMPA, Florida. – Robert Cox, the leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into Florida, was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

The sentence was obtained by Attorney General Ashley Moody's statewide prosecution office following an investigation in which the Florida Highway Patrol found more than 306 grams of fentanyl in the man's vehicle. Cox.

“This leader of a drug trafficking organization transported and supplied enough fentanyl to kill more than 150,000 people. Floridians, please know that illicit fentanyl is extremely potent, just 2 milligrams constitutes a lethal dose, and this poison kills more than 70,000 Americans each year,” Moody said.

Read: Lakeland man pleads guilty to distributing fentanyl in Plant City

A collaborative investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations led to the arrest and 27-year prison sentence of Robert Cox , a key player in a fentanyl trafficking ring in Tampa Bay.

Undercover agents were able to purchase fentanyl from Cox on multiple occasions, ultimately leading to a traffic stop in Sumter County where more than 306 grams of fentanyl was discovered in his vehicle.

“I am grateful for the interdiction efforts of our law enforcement partners in this case and to our prosecutors statewide in securing a 27-year prison sentence,” said Moody.

Help support the Tampa Free Press by making a small donation by clicking here.

Android users, click to download the Tampa Free Press app and never miss a story. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to our free newsletter.