Beach residents arrested for operating drug house

St Augustine Beach Chief, Robert A. Hardwick, informed local Historic City News reporters that this morning’s execution of a search warrant has led to the arrest of two beach residents, the seizure of assets from a criminal enterprise, as well as illegal drugs and paraphernalia.

The residence at 984 Saltwater Circle within the City of St Augustine Beach has been under surveillance and an extensive investigation after the Beach Police received numerous complaints of illegal drug activity.

“Our officers determined that there was ongoing drug activity occurring in the home and obtained a warrant to search the premises,” Chief Hardwick told members of the media today. “The investigation is ongoing. Investigators have deemed the home to be an established drug dwelling in violation of numerous Florida Statutes. Further charges are spending.”

Men and women of the multi-agency St Johns County Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team were used to execute this morning’s warrant in a cooperative effort between the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Augustine Police Department.

Once law enforcement officials made entry into the residence they located drugs, paraphernalia and manufacturing equipment associated with unlawful drug activity.

Charged in the warrant with cultivation of marijuana, maintaining a public nuisance and possession of drug paraphernalia were 21-year-old Daniel Francis Cantu, and 60-year-old Daniel Earnest Cantu — both were arrested at the scene and transported to the St. Johns County Jail without incident.