Palm Coast man arrested in drug operation

The Monday afternoon arrest of a 66 year-old Palm Coast man culminated an eight month investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Tri-County Narcotics Task Force into a marijuana distribution operation that has connections to the Midwest.

For the past eight months, the task force has been monitoring the movement of Robert Lee Delattre. Cpl. Steve Brandt of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team and a member of the task force said Tuesday that Delattre, of 19 First Avenue, made quarterly trips to the Midwest where he would bring back anywhere from 25 to 100 pounds of high grade marijuana. Each pound was valued at $4,500 street value.

Once back in Flagler County, Delattre would sell the illegal substance for $350 an ounce. Narcotics agents raided the Palm Coast home Monday shortly before 5 p.m. and a total of 57 ½ pounds of marijuana was confiscated.

Another home near Delattre was also entered and 11 more pounds of marijuana were discovered. Agents are not releasing the location of the second home while the investigation is underway.

Cpl. Brandt said additional arrests are pending.

“This investigation is ongoing. We are working on identifying more local suspects as well as working with other federal agencies to shut down the Midwest connection,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.

Delattre was arrested on charges of trafficking in cannabis, possession of an altered firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Agents found a shotgun, two long rifles, ammunition and a second shotgun that had the serial number scratched off in the attic of the home.

The Palm Coast man was being held in the Flagler County Inmate Facility on $85,000 bond on the charges.