21 arrested in Brevard County drug bust

VIERA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Undercover agents with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office say they seized drugs and cash inside an upscale Viera apartment complex.  The drug seizure resulted in 21 arrests. 

Investigators say an alleged drug dealing organization sold heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine throughout central and south Brevard County.

"They try and embed themselves in places where they may not be recognized, or may not be looked upon as somebody involved in this type of organization," said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.  "To see them in this nice apartment complex is not surprising, it seems to be the trend that most are having."

Among those arrested was 32-year-old Larrico Smith, of Palm Bay. In addition to more than a dozen drug charges, deputies say he also used violence to intimidate rival drug dealers and even attempted to have one of them killed. 

"When you look at the type of violence, the type of impact this level of drugs has on the community, there's only one place for them and that's the Brevard County Jail," Ivey added. 

Seized during the execution of the warrants were seven automobiles, motorcycles, three all-terrain vehicles, $50,000 in cash, eight firearms as well as two kilograms of heroin, one kilogram of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and other assorted controlled substances.