Sunrise is seizing more money from criminals than any police department in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Posing as drug sellers, police use a network of informants to set up drug deals.
How the stings go down
THE OUTCOME
Sellers are undercover officers who manage the operations and the informants.
Buyers are lured to Sunrise to finalize deal. Most buyers are from outside the city.
THE PLAYERS
Informant notifies officer that he or she has a buyer interested in at least a kilo of cocaine.
Informant and buyer meet in public locations to negotiate quantity and price. Undercover officer may be introduced to the buyer.
Buyer arrives.
Locations may be at mall parking lots, gas stations or rented warehouses.
An officer shows the cocaine.
The buyer shows the money and may sample cocaine.
Money and drugs are exchanged.
The arrest is made.
BUSTED
THE SETUP
THE STING
Most suspects accept deals for lesser sentences, some become informants and help police catch more drug dealers.
Some criminal cases are dropped.
Few suspects get the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
ITEMS SEIZED:
Money
Watches
Jewelry
Laptops
Cell phones
Cars
Overtime pay for officers.
Pay for some informants.
Police budget and expenses: guns, protective gear, computers and operation costs.
SOURCES: Sunrise Police Department; Broward Circuit Court records
REPORTING BY: Megan O’Matz and John Maines
SUN SENTINEL
GRAPHIC AND PRODUCTION: Cindy Jones-Hulfachor
SOURCES/CREDIT