Divers Find 25 Bricks of Suspected Cocaine with Fake Nike Logos off Key West Coast
Divers Find 25 Bricks of Suspected Cocaine with Fake Nike Logos off Key West Coast
Divers exploring off the coast of Key West, Florida, initially mistook what they found on the ocean floor for trash. However, it turned out to be over two dozen packages of suspected cocaine, authorities reported Wednesday.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo after scuba divers reported the discovery. The images released by the sheriff's office revealed a torn garbage bag next to the packages, which were marked with fake Nike SB logos.
The 25 packages, each weighing approximately one kilogram (2.2 pounds), were found about 100 feet underwater in the Atlantic Ocean. The stash has been handed over to U.S. Border Patrol for further investigation.
This find follows a recent incident in which a beachgoer discovered around $1 million worth of cocaine washed ashore in the Florida Keys. That package contained 65 pounds of cocaine, according to CBS Miami.
Drug traffickers often transport cocaine across international waters using various vessels, and it's not uncommon for them to mark their packages with distinctive designs. In January, the Colombian Navy intercepted a "narco sub" carrying over 1,000 pounds of cocaine, with some packages marked with scorpion insignias or names like "Winnie" and "Carnal."
Last year, several Florida beaches saw packages of cocaine, worth over $100,000 in total, washed ashore, some featuring designs mimicking luxury brands like Chanel. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also made headlines when she found 70 pounds of cocaine emblazoned with butterfly designs during a family fishing trip.
In 2023, nearly 150 pounds of cocaine washed up on Big Pine Key, and in 2019, bricks of cocaine were discovered on two beaches following Hurricane Dorian's impact on the Florida coast.
Colombia remains a major source of the world's cocaine production.
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