St. Petersburg Police Seize Major Drug Haul in ‘Operation Cookie Dough
In a significant law enforcement operation, St. Petersburg police have confiscated 10 kilograms of fentanyl, 10 kilograms of cocaine, and roughly half a million dollars in cash, marking the city’s largest drug bust in 20 years. Dubbed “Operation Cookie Dough,” the sting was carried out in partnership with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), leading to the arrest of several key suspects.
At the center of the bust is David Lee Watson, a 36-year-old whom St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway described as a “high-level distributor” responsible for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics throughout the community.
“Mr. Watson was not a street-level drug dealer,” Holloway emphasized during a press conference on Thursday. “He is responsible for trafficking a significant quantity of fentanyl and other drugs in our community.”
The operation, conducted on August 7, involved multiple search warrants, including one at a residence on 29th Street North, referred to as “the warehouse” by investigators. According to Chief Holloway, this location was exclusively used for suppliers to pick up narcotics before distributing them to street-level dealers.
The police seized 10.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 10.6 kilograms of powdered cocaine, over 10 ounces of oxycodone pills, and 11 pounds of marijuana. Additionally, authorities confiscated approximately $506,000 in cash and three firearms.
Watson was apprehended and charged with a series of crimes, including trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, money laundering, and illegal firearm possession as a felon. He is currently being held at the Pinellas County Jail on a bond set at over $2 million.
Another suspect, 34-year-old Kelvin Maysonet, was arrested in Orange County on related charges, including trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine, amphetamines, and oxycodone, as well as operating a drug house. Maysonet is awaiting extradition to Pinellas County. Meanwhile, police are actively searching for a third suspect, Alexander Graham, who is wanted on similar charges.
Chief Holloway noted that fentanyl’s prevalence in the area is due to its year-round availability, unlike seasonal drugs such as cocaine and marijuana. “All these guys have to do is order it up, someone will make it in their factory, deliver it to the area, and from there, they can distribute it to our streets,” he explained.
The operation’s name, “Cookie Dough,” refers to the brown, powdery appearance of the fentanyl when packed into clear plastic bags.
Florida’s State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) program provided critical support for the operation. At the press conference, FDLE Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard highlighted the impact of removing such a large quantity of fentanyl from circulation.
“This amount of fentanyl has the capability of destroying hundreds of thousands of lives,” Pollard stated. “But by working together, we keep our communities safer, we keep our families safe, against drug trafficking organizations and the violence and secondary crimes they bring.”
As the investigation continues, St. Petersburg authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to combat the influx of dangerous drugs into their community.
