Divers in Key West, Florida, have uncovered more than a dozen packages of suspected cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean, authorities said on Wednesday. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported that the packages, weighing a total of 25kg, were found approximately 100 feet underwater near the Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo.
The divers initially believed they were removing trash when they made the discovery at around 12:25pm. A photo released by the sheriff's office shows a ripped black garbage bag alongside grey packages wrapped in clear plastic, each marked with a blue “Nike SB” sign and the Nike swoosh logo. The suspected narcotics were handed over to US Border Patrol.
This find follows a similar incident earlier this month, when a beachgoer in the Florida Keys discovered around 30kg of cocaine worth an estimated $1 million. In January, the US Coast Guard seized over a ton of cocaine valued at $32 million in the Caribbean Sea, leading to the arrest of six smugglers.
Florida's proximity to South America makes it a high-intensity drug trafficking area, and experts warn that “cocaine sharks” may be consuming the drugs underwater. Tracy Fanara, an environmental engineer, noted that cocaine is highly soluble, and even slightly opened packages could release the drug into the water, potentially affecting marine life.
