DAVIE, Fla. – Residents of the quiet Laurel Oaks subdivision in Davie were shocked Wednesday morning when they saw federal drug agents arrest two of their neighbors.
"When I was going to church this morning and a car was parked outside (the house), my husband came and asked, 'Who are you?' They said, 'Homeland Security,' and then after that all of the cars just started coming in," Cindy Padavathil said. "We don't know what's going on at all."
Anthony Gomes, 33, and Elizabeth Ton -- or Lisa Gomes as she also goes by -- had been living in the area for only five months.
The couple is believed to be married and are currently being held in the Broward County jail.
The pair have been named as coconspirators of an investigation of an international drug ring accused of distributing fentanyl -- a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine.
An indictment accuses them of using computers to buy and sell the drug on sites that are designed to be hidden from the public.
At least four deaths have been linked to the case.
The raid of the home began in the morning and continued throughout the day.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents were joined by officers with the Department of Homeland Security, IRS and the Broward Sheriff's Office to search the home.
Sherif Elhaddad is the president of the Laurel Oaks Homeowners Association. He said the couple used to get late-night visits and it was common for there to be activity at the house after 2 a.m.
"We're happy that they're gone," Elhaddad said.