Authorities have reported the discovery of 25 kilograms of suspected cocaine washed up on Dauphin Island in Alabama, just one day after divers found the same amount of drugs off the coast of Florida. Packaged in individual bundles, the 55 pounds of drugs had an estimated street value of $450,000. A photo released by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office showed 25 packages of the suspected drugs, some of them with a “%” sticker on the front. The Dauphin Island Police Department reported the find to the sheriff’s office after the drugs were spotted on the beach, and detectives did not find any additional packages but are continuing to monitor the area.
The scuba divers who discovered the 25 kilograms of suspected cocaine off Key West in Florida found the packages about 100 feet underwater in the Atlantic Ocean and turned the stash over to the U.S. Border Patrol. In addition to these recent discoveries, the U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 4,800 pounds of cocaine worth over $63 million at a Florida port after Coast Guard officers fired at and sank a speedboat suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea. Drug traffickers routinely transport cocaine through waters in the Gulf Coast and Caribbean Sea, leading to narcotics being found washed up on or near U.S. beaches.
Incidents of drugs washing up on Florida beaches have been reported in recent years, including a beachgoer finding about $1 million worth of cocaine on the Florida Keys and packages of cocaine worth more than $100,000 being washed up on several Florida beaches in 2023. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor even reeled in 70 pounds of cocaine while on a fishing trip with her family in 2023. In January of the same year, nearly 150 pounds of packaged cocaine washed up on Big Pine Key, and in 2019, bricks of cocaine were discovered on two beaches after Hurricane Dorian hit Florida. These incidents highlight the ongoing issue of drug trafficking through maritime routes in the region.
Stephen Smith, a managing editor for CBSNews.com, based in New York, has reported on the recent discoveries of suspected cocaine on beaches in Alabama and Florida. Smith notes the prevalence of drug trafficking through the Gulf Coast and Caribbean Sea, leading to drugs washing up on U.S. beaches. Authorities are working to monitor and prevent the smuggling of narcotics into the country. The recent discoveries of cocaine highlight the ongoing challenges law enforcement agencies face in combating drug trafficking through maritime routes and maritime incidents involving drugs.
The incidents of cocaine being washed up on beaches in Florida and Alabama underscore the need for increased vigilance and security measures to prevent illegal drug smuggling through the maritime routes. Law enforcement agencies are actively monitoring the coastal areas to identify and seize illegal drugs that are being trafficked through the region. The discoveries of suspected cocaine in recent days serve as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by drug traffickers and the importance of collaborative efforts to combat this illicit activity. Authorities continue to investigate the origin and destination of the drugs found on the beaches to disrupt and dismantle drug smuggling networks operating in the region.
