A Florida fisherman made an unexpected catch worth $1.7 million when he hauled in 55 pounds of cocaine along Brevard County’s Atlantic coastline.
After turning in the illegal drugs, the local sheriff issued an invitation to the cocaine’s owner to come pick them up.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey took to social media Monday with a tongue-in-cheek message about the 25-kilo discovery, which bore a distinctive scorpion logo and watertight seal.
“If the 25 kilos of coke belongs to you, all we need you to do is come down to our Criminal Investigative Services building on Gus Hipp Blvd in Rockledge and claim your property with absolutely no strings attached,” Ivey wrote.
The sheriff suggested the cocaine “inadvertently fell (off) the back of someone’s boat as they were apparently enjoying a leisurely stroll along the beautiful coastline and beaches of Brevard County!”
The fisherman who discovered the packages “wanted to do the right thing” and immediately contacted law enforcement, according to Ivey’s post. The sheriff’s office even offered what they called a unique incentive – an all-expenses-paid staycation at “Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge,” a reference to the county jail.
The discovery marks another significant drug find along Florida’s coastline, which has long been a route for narcotics trafficking.
Law enforcement officials are investigating how the carefully packaged drugs, secured in water-tight containers and marked with the scorpion brand, ended up in local waters. The street value estimate of $1.7 million underscores the significance of the find.
Sheriff Ivey’s comedic approach to announcing the drug seizure reflects a growing trend among law enforcement agencies using social media to engage with their communities, even when dealing with serious criminal matters.
The case remains under investigation, and while the sheriff’s invitation to claim the drugs was made in jest, authorities are seriously pursuing leads about their origin and the trafficking network responsible for their presence in Florida waters.
The sheriff’s office is encouraging anyone with information about the cocaine’s origin to contact their Narcotics Division at 321-264-5201.