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Good Samaritan turns in 50 pounds of cocaine, Keys deputies say

A Good Samaritan found 50 pounds of cocaine off Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, alerting deputies to the drug haul, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said.
A Good Samaritan found 50 pounds of cocaine off Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, alerting deputies to the drug haul, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said. MCSO

Florida Keys deputies roped ashore about 50 pounds of cocaine that was turned in by an eagle-eyed good Samaritan, authorities say.

The unidentified mariner found more than 20 large, brick-shaped, black packages on Thursday in the waters about five miles south of Islamorada, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies suspected there was cocaine inside.

After the boater alerted authorities, deputies, with the aid of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, brought the packages ashore.

. The sheriff’s office handed over the drugs to federal law enforcement.

This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Good Samaritan turns in 50 pounds of cocaine, Keys deputies say."

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Devoun Cetoute
Miami Herald
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Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.