The fight to keep the dangerous synthetic drug flakka off South Florida streets saw a real victory on Thursday as well as a symbolic one.
Two central Florida men were busted Thursday for trying to import flakka from China. Michael J. Hernandez, 25, and Jonell Philip Vega-Mercado, 19, were charged with conspiracy to import and possession with the intent to distribute flakka, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.
When Hernandez and Vega-Mercado tried to pick up packages in Fort Lauderdale, they were taken into custody. That means 24 pounds of flakka, worth a half-million dollars will never hit the streets.
South Florida law enforcement have been on the offensive against the killer drug that makes people experience excited delirium and believe they have super human strength.
And Thursday evening the community went on the offensive as well, in the form of a rally and a silent march that began at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Walkers weaved in and out of local streets to warn residents about flakka.
Rose Waters' nephew died from flakka just last month. Weeks later she found the strength to take her fight to the streets.
"I tell you when I think about it now... I try not to think about that. But when I do it tears me apart and this is why I am here now," Waters said. "Because I don't want this to take another life... and I don't want to see anybody endure the pain."
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With each step there were other stories just like Waters'.
"It's hard, it's hard daily," said Arthea Brown. "You never forget it, you never forget the person because it's not the person. It is a struggle."
"People are dying daily, we have people dying... even just on Memorial Weekend, we had ten people that died just on that weekend only," said evangelist Michelle Richards Phillips.
"We started seeing this in December," added Paul Faulk of Broward Addiction Recovery. "And I tell you it went from one person to now almost 40 people a month coming in."
The problem is very real. Last year in Broward County there were fewer than 200 cases of flakka. This year has already passed that by more than double. Kids and the homeless are at most risk.
"Absolutely crack was an epidemic in the 80's. When I think crack anymore... now we've seen it replaced," said Fort Lauderdale Police Captain Dana Swisher.
For frequently asked questions about flakka from Broward County, click here.
