SPRING HILL, Fla. – A Spring Hill man who owned two smoke shops in Tampa has been arrested following a lengthy investigation into alleged narcotics trafficking tied to a fatal overdose in the Bay Area.
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said investigators had been building a case against 30-year-old Ryan Perez for more than a year after receiving information that he was involved in drug distribution. Although Perez resided on Utah Street in Spring Hill, authorities believe much of the operation centered on mail-order narcotics sales conducted through the dark web and paid for with cryptocurrency.
According to the sheriff, local investigators later shared intelligence with the Drug Enforcement Administration as the case expanded.
A turning point came on December 26, 2025, when deputies in neighboring Pasco County responded to what initially appeared to be a routine death investigation. The case was later classified as an overdose homicide.
Officials said the victim’s wife told deputies she knew the individual who supplied her husband with MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. She reported that her husband complained about feeling extremely hot the night before his death. He reportedly went to take a shower while she went to sleep. When she woke up, he was unresponsive.
Investigators traced the supply chain through multiple alleged dealers, identified during the investigation as “Supplier No. 4,” “Supplier No. 3,” and “Supplier No. 2,” eventually leading detectives to Perez. Authorities allege Perez was the original source of the MDMA linked to the overdose.
Sheriff Nienhuis stated that laboratory testing indicated the seized MDMA was approximately two and a half times stronger than what is typically found on the street.
When deputies executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence, they reported seizing large quantities of suspected narcotics and related items, including:
- Approximately 2 pounds of MDMA
- 10 counterfeit Adderall pills
- 14.5 grams of LSD
- 2 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms
- 1 pound of marijuana plants
- Around 20 pounds of other marijuana products
Authorities also alleged the presence of various THC products, including wax and vape cartridges.
Perez was charged with trafficking MDMA, trafficking controlled substances including LSD, possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to sell, possession of marijuana in plant form, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His wife, Adina Perez, was also arrested during the search after deputies said she was in possession of a trafficking amount of MDMA. Another individual at the residence was taken into custody on a felony marijuana possession charge.
In addition to the home search, federal agents obtained warrants for two Hippe Crib smoke shop locations in Tampa owned by Perez. During those searches, authorities reported seizing several firearms and cryptocurrency exchange machines.
Special Agent Danny Escobar of the DEA’s Tampa Field Division said the investigation revealed that Perez allegedly ordered chemical compounds from overseas suppliers in countries including China, India, and parts of Europe. Investigators believe the substances were then packaged and redistributed locally.
Officials warned that many of the chemicals contained powerful synthetic compounds, including opioids and cannabinoids often marketed as K2 or spice. Law enforcement officials said users frequently have no way of knowing the true contents or potency of such vape cartridges or synthetic products.
Authorities believe the operation may have been active for an extended period, though investigators have not confirmed an exact timeline.
The case remains under investigation, and additional charges could follow.
