State
Attorney General James Uthmeier announces arrest of major fentanyl trafficker and seizure of drugs in Palm Beach and Broward counties
Tallahassee, Florida – A major drug trafficker is behind bars following a multi-agency investigation that led to the seizure of large quantities of illegal narcotics across Palm Beach and Broward counties. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced this week the arrest of Raymond Pine, a West Palm Beach resident, who now faces two felony charges of trafficking fentanyl — one of the deadliest drugs currently fueling the opioid crisis.
The arrest, which occurred Wednesday during an attempted cocaine sale, was carried out by the Broward Sheriff’s Office with the support of several law enforcement partners. Investigators say Pine sold more than 750 grams of fentanyl to undercover officers since April 2025, triggering a deeper probe into his operations.
“Florida law enforcement continues to crack down heavily on the dangerous fentanyl in our communities,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “Mr. Pine pushed out enough fentanyl to kill entire neighborhoods, and our Statewide Prosecutors will make sure he stays behind bars for a long time. If you traffic this poison in Florida, we’re coming for you.”
The investigation, led by the Gang Investigations Task Force, uncovered that Pine had been storing drugs at two separate locations — one in West Palm Beach and another in Boynton Beach. The scope of the drug stash stunned even seasoned officers.
At the time of his arrest, authorities seized approximately 1,096 grams of cocaine. But it was what they found in the homes that painted a much larger and more dangerous picture.
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At Pine’s West Palm Beach residence, investigators recovered:
• 718 grams of fentanyl
• 947 grams of heroin
• 245 grams of MDMA
• 14.5 grams of Xanax
• 9 grams of oxycodone
• 7.5 grams of cocaine
• 955 grams of cannabis
Meanwhile, the Boynton Beach property held:
• 2,881 grams of cannabis
• 28 grams of fentanyl
All told, the seized drugs add up to a staggering amount of narcotics, particularly fentanyl, which can be lethal in amounts as small as two milligrams. Authorities estimate that the volume recovered was enough to cause thousands of overdoses.
Raymond Pine is currently being held without bond at the Broward County Jail and will soon be transferred to Palm Beach County to face formal prosecution. Each of the two fentanyl trafficking charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years, with a maximum of 60 years behind bars if convicted.
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The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Kristin Howe, as part of the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
This latest arrest highlights the ongoing battle against synthetic opioids in Florida, where fentanyl continues to drive overdose deaths. With this case, state officials are sending a clear message: high-level drug trafficking won’t be tolerated, and those who deal in deadly substances will face the full weight of the law.
As the legal process unfolds, authorities hope the bust will not only bring justice but also help remove a dangerous supply of drugs from circulation — and ultimately, save lives.
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