A Miami, FL-area police officer is behind bars and out of a job after being caught smuggling drugs onto a cruise ship.
Francisco Melo, 36, was “relieved of duty, arrested, and charged with the possession, sale, and trafficking of a controlled substance” after a criminal investigation spurred by a tip, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) said Thursday.
Reports say Melo allegedly tried to carry ecstasy pills in Skittles packages onto a cruise ship ahead of a dance party.
Florida deputy accused of trying to smuggle drugs in Skittles bags onto cruise ship | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/ecS23R5GVL
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) January 27, 2025
Melo was a six-year veteran with the MDSO before being relieved of his duties, the police said.
According to a report from media outlet Law & Crime, Melo allegedly attempted to smuggle the pills onto a Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas cruise ship Wednesday at PortMiami ahead of a scheduled four-day dance music festival.
Police intercepted him at the port’s parking lot and a K-9 allegedly sniffed out the drugs.
Melo had six Skittles packages, five of which allegedly contained a total of 50 MDMA or ecstasy pills, according to the outlet.
According to police reports, Melo allegedly sold ecstasy pills worth $240 to an undercover agent after the MDSO received a tip that Melo was allegedly peddling drugs.
Speaking of the scandal, MDSO Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said she was “disappointed,” saying, “Narcotics don’t just harm those who use them, they devastate families, and fuel crime.”
“No one is above the law, and this office will not tolerate criminal behavior from anyone, especially those entrusted to enforce it,” she continued.
“The actions of this individual are a betrayal of the public trust and of all the deputies who work tirelessly to protect our community.”