A package containing an estimated $625,000 worth of cocaine was discovered floating in the Gulf of Mexico near Everglades City, Florida. The discovery was made by boaters who noticed the unusual package in the mangroves off Panther Key.
The package, roughly the size of a microwave oven, contained 56 pounds of cocaine divided into 25 individually wrapped kilograms. The barnacle-covered package suggests it had been adrift for a significant amount of time, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
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Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk expressed his appreciation for the observant citizens who reported the package, highlighting the importance of community vigilance.
“We appreciate the help of Good Samaritans in our community who saw something unusual and contacted law enforcement,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office recovered the cocaine and is actively investigating its origin, deputies say.
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Detectives believe the cocaine likely drifted from the east coast due to recent storms, as similar drug packages have been found in the waters off Miami and the Florida Keys. While reminiscent of past drug smuggling activities in the region, such discoveries are uncommon today.
The Vice and Narcotics Bureau is leading the investigation to determine the cocaine’s source.
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