IMPORTANT NEWS...
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco and the Miami-Dade Police Department Make Drug Bust at Unlicensed Miami Night Club
February 5, 2009
TALLAHASSEE— Last night the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco and the Miami-Dade Police Department executed a search warrant at the La Bodeguita Del Vino night club, located at 7423 NW 55 St., in Miami. Officers arrested five people for various illegal activities. The search warrant was the result of a month-long investigation involving the night club operating without a license.
During the investigation, undercover officers observed evidence of narcotic sales, gambling and beverage violations. Officers purchased these narcotics and alcoholic beverages, which included non-taxed wine. Officers arrested two individuals for possession of cocaine, one for an outstanding warrant, and one for the sale and/or delivery of cocaine, trafficking cocaine, buying and receiving stolen property, and the sale of alcoholic beverages without a license. In addition, the drug supplier was arrested at the premises and charged with the sale and/or delivery of cocaine and trafficking cocaine. Coincidentally, he was out on bond for another cocaine trafficking case.
Officers seized a plethora of items including: approximately 34 grams of cocaine valued at $1,500, four bottles of liquor, 1,200 bottles of wine, numerous bottles of beer, four video gaming machines and related gambling records, approximately $2,000 in cash, and a 2000 Mercedes SUV.
The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.
The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
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