Hialeah Police Release Video of Undercover Drug Buys
“Like, Afghan number four is going to be great for smoking it, shooting it, snorting it,” one suspect boasted, unaware the customer across from him was an undercover cop.
The Investigation
HIALEAH, Fla. — Newly released video reveals the scope of a months-long undercover investigation into narcotics sales in Hialeah. Police say the operation began on April 21 when the Hialeah Police Department’s Special Investigations Section received a tip that 48-year-old Peder Larsen was selling methamphetamine and other drugs from his home on the 5400 block of West 21st Court. Undercover detectives arranged multiple controlled buys, capturing each encounter on hidden cameras. The footage shows Larsen not only selling drugs but lecturing undercover officers about the substances he peddled.
The Undercover Buys
Investigators say Larsen was brazen, openly describing pricing and effects of narcotics during the recorded meetings.
“I normally sell it by the eight ball for $100, or an ounce for $600,” Larsen said on video. He explained the differences between heroin and fentanyl, warned about the dangers of overdosing, and showcased crystal methamphetamine and heroin from his bedroom setup.
Photos taken inside the home show test tubes, baggies, scales, pills, powders, and other paraphernalia piled next to a bed. Each undercover meeting reportedly ended the same way: Larsen carefully counting the cash, at times running it through a bill counter.
Family Involvement and Child Neglect Charges
Larsen’s wife, Sharon Larsen, a Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher, was also arrested and charged with child neglect. Detectives allege some of the drug sales occurred while the couple’s 17-year-old daughter was present in the home. Sharon initially denied knowledge of her husband’s drug activity, but later admitted she was aware. The district has since terminated her employment.
Arrest and Charges
In June, police moved in and arrested Larsen. He now faces multiple counts of drug possession and trafficking. Sharon Larsen faces child neglect charges and was released on bond, while Peder Larsen remains behind bars after a judge upheld his $905,000 bond last month. The case underscores the continued drug trade challenges in South Florida an area where fentanyl, meth, and heroin remain steady threats.
