A surprising find in the Florida Keys this past weekend as a boater stumbled upon a significant quantity of cocaine estimated to be worth over $1 million. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported that the discovery was made approximately seven miles off Islamorada, where the boater came across "a package containing approximately 21 individually wrapped kilograms of suspected cocaine," according to a statement by the sheriff's office and as reported by NBC Miami. The drugs were found floating in the water around noon on Saturday.
The packages, which collectively weighed 65 pounds, seemed to have unintentionally drifted to make their presence known to the maritime community. The U.S. Border Patrol was quickly involved to secure the narcotics, which were wrapped in black packaging adorned with an image of a bald eagle in mid-flight. These details were shared by Samuel Briggs II, the acting chief patrol of the U.S. Border Patrol, who was quoted saying he appreciated the "support of the good Samaritans" who turned in the cocaine, in a video that also showcased authorities wheeling the drugs away, a scene shared in the report from WSVN.
The U.S. Border Patrol has yet to announce any suspects or vessels in connection with the cocaine. The official X account for the U.S. Border Patrol's Miami sector acknowledged the discovery, extending their appreciation to the "Good Samaritan’s in our community" for their role in the find.
Recreational boater in the Florida Keys discovers 65 lbs. of cocaine floating at sea. The cocaine has an estimated street value of over $1 million & will be seized by the U.S. #BorderPatrol. We appreciate the support from Good Samaritan’s in our community.#floridakeys #drugs pic.twitter.com/g2hQYhLATG
— Samuel Briggs II (@USBPChiefMIP) June 18, 2024
The investigation, as the U.S. Border Patrol has indicated, is ongoing, and leads are actively to be pursued to determine the source of these narcotics and the broader network they might suggest.
