brevard County, FL – A months-long inquiry culminated in a raid uncovering 92,000 pounds of suspected illegal drugs, firearms, adn improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at a Florida warehouse, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.the operation led to the arrest of Maxwell Horvath, 26, who authorities suspect was manufacturing and distributing an illegal derivative of Kratom known as 7-OH.
Sheriff Ivey announced the arrest via Facebook Reel, stating Horvath is facing multiple weapons charges and is under suspicion for drug offenses. officials estimate the value of the seized 7-OH at $4.7 million.The raid also yielded five IEDs, grenade simulators, automatic weapons, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. This case, as Sheriff Ivey described, is “Breaking Bad on steroids.”
The investigation revealed Horvath previously served federal prison time for possession of explosives and trafficking MDMA, and was later sentenced to probation.
The seized substance, 7-OH, is a derivative of Kratom that binds to opioid receptors. The Food and Drug management (FDA) has warned of the dangers of 7-OH, noting its availability in concentrated forms online and in retail locations, and its increasingly concerning marketing to children and teens through products like flavored gummies and ice cream.
This arrest coincides with a joint effort announced a day prior by the FDA and the U.S. Department of Justice to target illegal products containing 7-hydroxymitragine. that nationwide effort resulted in the seizure of 73,000 units of product from three warehouses.
The brevard County Sheriff’s Office was the primary source of information for this report.
