The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced on April 27 that its Agricultural Patrol Section has achieved a 50 percent reduction in the theft of avocados, other produce, and horse slaughter cases since 2023.
This decrease is notable for an area where agricultural crime has been persistent and costly. The crimes, often driven by black-market demand, have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars lost to organized groups targeting groves and stables.
“When I started out here in 2023, there was an average of five or six horse slaughters a year,” said Sgt. Pedro Guerra, who leads the unit. “Through our investigations, we identified the main players — the criminal organizations — and we brought those main antagonists to justice. In 2025, there wasn’t a single case.”
The Agricultural Patrol Section’s approach included identifying undocumented individuals involved in large-scale avocado thefts who worked under a cash-based hierarchy. Collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement helped obtain valuable information for these investigations.
Detective Josue Guerra Jr., not related to his supervisor Sgt. Guerra, played a key role in uncovering major perpetrators. His work led to his recognition as Dade County Farm Bureau’s Deputy of the Year for disrupting organized crime networks affecting local agriculture. Detective Guerra also recovered stolen exotic birds valued at over $25,000 after tracing surveillance footage back to a suspect’s residence.
“I met a lot of the farmers, we’ve interacted a lot, and I’m honored to get that award,” Detective Guerra said. He will receive this recognition during the Dade County Farm Bureau’s annual event on April 25.
