Florida officials intercepted millions of dollars worth of cocaine traveling from Mexico to South Florida during a traffic stop on the Florida Turnpike, the governor’s office announced Wednesday.
According to authorities, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) West Palm Beach office alerted Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to intelligence regarding a semi-truck suspected of transporting narcotics from the Mexican-Texas border into the state. On Oct. 5, DEA and FHP officers stopped the vehicle traveling southbound on the Turnpike.
“During the inspection, troopers discovered a concealed trap door containing multiple duffel bags filled with cocaine,” officials said in a news release.
Authorities reported that the vehicle was carrying approximately 173 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $14.7 million. The suspects were detained and taken into federal custody for further investigation and prosecution. One of those detained was reportedly previously deported from the United States. Their identities have not been released.
In the news release, officials highlighted Florida’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and its collaboration with federal agencies. Executive Director Dave Kerner said, “With the southern border shut down, transnational narco cartels can no longer simply walk across the border with guns, drugs, and human couriers. This forces cartels to attempt to move large amounts of narcotics in a way that allows the full weight of law enforcement efforts to not just interdict, but to investigate the supply chain back to their point of origin. Ultimately, a secure border allows us to target the ultimate source of evil; the criminal cartels and the resources they rely upon.”
Since 2019, FHP has recovered over 14,000 kilograms of illegal narcotics, including 925 kilograms of cocaine, 23.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 14 kilograms of heroin, 9,600 kilograms of marijuana, and 19 kilograms of MDMA, authorities said.
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins emphasized the state’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking: “Our message to drug traffickers is clear: do not bring your poison into our state. We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will always stand on the front lines to protect Floridians from those who threaten our safety and our future.”
