Deputies Intercept Pill Trafficking Plot

After pulling over a car in Land O’ Lakes Sunday and arresting its occupants, a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy looked in the rear and found a cache of about $70,000 worth of prescription pills.

Ramon Aguilar-Hernandez, the driver, and Damiana Alvarado, his passenger, were already under investigation when they were pulled over at the corner of Stonegate Falls Drive and State Road 54. Law enforcement officers believed they were coming back from South Florida with a stash of prescription pills, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Once Aguilar-Hernandez and Alvarado were in custody, a search of the car, a 2007 four-door Honda, revealed 3,280 Oxycodone pills and 1,413 Alprazolam pills in back.

Aguilar-Hernandez and Alvarado are subjects of a five-month investigation. Deputies say most of the stash was meant for sale or consumption in West Pasco.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said deputies believe the two were working with others.

“These two were not acting alone," Nocco said. “They were part of an organization." 

Aguilar-Hernandez, 39, of 5135 Gemstone Drive in New Port Richey, was arrested and charged with three counts of trafficking in controlled substances and two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute or manufacture.These charges stem from the Sunday incident and past offenses he was arrested for Sunday.

Alvarado, 38, was charged with six counts of trafficking in controlled substances and two counts of sale of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a convenience store and four counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute or manufacture. These charges stem from the Sunday arrest and past offenses she was arrested for Sunday.

Both are now in the Land O' Lakes jail.