Florida’s beaches have become unexpected hotspots for illegal drug discoveries in recent weeks. In the latest incident, vacationers at the Islands of Islamorada resort in the Florida Keys found a package containing 16 bricks of suspected cocaine. The bricks, each wrapped in blue tape and adorned with a picture of a beach buggy were promptly reported to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This find is part of a broader trend, with several similar incidents occurring on Florida’s shores this year. Earlier this month, over 70 pounds of cocaine, valued at approximately $1 million, washed up in the Florida Keys after Hurricane Debby. Additionally, a 56-pound package of cocaine, estimated to be worth $625,000, was discovered floating near Everglades City.
The frequent appearance of cocaine on Florida beaches is linked to drug traffickers’ methods of operation. According to the Justice Department, traffickers often drop packages of drugs into the ocean to evade detection by law enforcement, intending for them to be retrieved later by other smugglers. However, ocean currents, hurricanes, or tropical storms can cause these packages to wash ashore.
In some cases, drugs are dropped from private aircraft to ships at sea, offering another method for smugglers to transport goods into the U.S., particularly in states like Florida.
The United Nations reported that about 90% of the cocaine consumed in North America originates from Colombia, often making its way through the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
