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Multi-Agency Operation Targets Alleged Volusia County Gang
Date Posted: November 12th, 2026
Law enforcement agencies across Central Florida executed 10 search warrants in a coordinated operation targeting an alleged Volusia County gang known as the Cutthroat Killers. The operation, carried out on June 30, 2026, is the second phase of Operation Ice Breaker. Authorities expect the investigation to lead to the arrests of more than 50 alleged gang members.
Investigators believe the group is responsible for multiple shootings, overdose deaths, and the trafficking of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other illegal drugs. Authorities also linked the gang to a shooting at a Buc-ee’s two weeks before the operation. SWAT teams raided a church-owned home in Holly Hill, where investigators believe the group stored drugs and firearms. Search warrants were also served at nine other locations across the county.
The Daytona Beach Police Department launched Operation Ice Breaker in 2024. Since then, it has grown into a multi-agency effort involving local, state, and federal partners, including the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, investigators spent the past year conducting surveillance and using a federal wiretap as part of the case.
Cases like this one show the value of coordination between agencies. Shootings, overdose deaths, and drug trafficking often look like separate problems when viewed one jurisdiction at a time. However, when agencies bring their information together, those threads can lead back to a single network. As a result, investigators can see the full scope of a criminal enterprise and act against it all at once.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities expect to release more information about arrests and charges as the operation continues.
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