MIAMI — Recreational boaters found $1 million worth of cocaine floating in the ocean off the Florida Keys.
Samuel Briggs II, the acting chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol, wrote about the find in a social media post on X. Briggs posted video Monday night showing the wrapped packages of cocaine being wheeled away on a cart.
“We appreciate the support from Good Samaritans in our community,” he wrote.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a separate social media post on Facebook that “mariners in a private vessel found a package containing approximately 21 individually wrapped kilograms of suspected cocaine.”
The drugs were found about seven miles off Islamorada, Florida, on Saturday, the sheriff’s office said.
The office posted a photo of one of the packages, which was emblazoned with an image of a bald eagle.
Boaters off the coast of the Florida Keys made a shocking discovery recently when they stumbled upon $1 million worth of cocaine floating in the water. The find, which occurred near Marathon Key, has left authorities puzzled as to how such a large quantity of drugs ended up in the ocean.
The boaters, who were out enjoying a day on the water, first noticed several packages floating in the water. Upon closer inspection, they realized that the packages contained a white powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine. They immediately contacted the authorities, who arrived on the scene to collect the drugs.
The discovery of such a large quantity of cocaine off the coast of Florida is not uncommon, as the state is a major hub for drug trafficking due to its proximity to South America. However, the circumstances surrounding this particular find are unusual, as it is rare for such a large amount of drugs to be found floating in the water.
Authorities are now working to determine where the drugs came from and how they ended up in the ocean. It is possible that the drugs were dumped by smugglers attempting to evade capture, or that they were lost during a drug trafficking operation gone wrong. Regardless of the circumstances, the discovery serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Florida and the importance of vigilance in combating this illegal activity.
In addition to the potential criminal implications of the find, there are also environmental concerns surrounding the discovery of drugs in the ocean. Cocaine and other illicit substances can have harmful effects on marine life and ecosystems, and their presence in the water poses a threat to the health of the environment.
Overall, the discovery of $1 million worth of cocaine off the coast of the Florida Keys is a concerning and intriguing development. As authorities continue their investigation into the origins of the drugs, it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by drug trafficking in the region and the need for continued efforts to combat this illegal activity.
