Flagami Nightmare: Drug Ring Caught With Kilo of Meth Near Schools

MIAMI — A major drug trafficking ring has been dismantled in Flagami after Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents, backed by federal and local partners, arrested three suspects and seized more than a kilogram of methamphetamine alongside hundreds of grams of cocaine.

The bust, which unfolded on June 10 across two homes near area schools, led to the arrests of 52-year-old Carlos Alberto Sexto, 55-year-old Jorge Barbaro Vento Soler, and 33-year-old Dayana Luis Gutierrez.

At one location, law enforcement found meth hidden inside a pink Dora The Explorer backpack belonging to a little girl [emphasis added]—alongside other drugs. At another nearby house, agents uncovered cocaine stored in boxes labeled “Cafe La Llave,” along with small amounts of meth and MDMA. The total haul: over 1 kilogram of meth, nearly 400 grams of cocaine, tens of grams of amphetamines, and two MDMA pills .

Two of the suspects—Sexto and Vento Soler—are undocumented immigrants. All three face serious charges, including drug trafficking within 1,000 feet of schools, delivery of controlled substances, and child abuse due to the proximity of drugs to children.

The investigation, which began in July 2023, involved a coordinated multi-agency effort under the statewide S.A.F.E. task force. Investigators reported that hundreds of hours went into the operation, alongside forensic testing of the seized drugs, $26,031 in cash, and two vehicles.

All three suspects were booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and have since been arraigned. Sexto and Vento Soler face deportation proceedings under existing final removal orders.

Why This Story Hits Close to Home

• Disturbing proximity to children: The drugs were stored in homes with children present—one even inside a small child’s backpack.

• Drug hotspots near schools: Trafficking near schools brings harsher penalties and heightened public safety concerns.

• Algorithmic coordination: The S.A.F.E. task force shows how local, state, and federal officers can take on serious drug threats together.