Interim Chief Patrol Officer Samuel of the U.S. Border Patrol announced on social media that Hurricane Debbie washed $1 million worth of cocaine onto the Florida coast on Monday.
More than $1 million worth of cocaine washed up in the Florida Keys after Category 1 Hurricane Debbie wreaked havoc in the Big Bend region of the Gulf Coast. The U.S. Border Patrol reported that hurricane-force winds of more than 80 mph caused 25 packages of cocaine weighing 70 pounds to wash up on shore.
Hurricane Debbie blew 25 boxes (70 pounds) of cocaine onto a beach in the Florida Keys. A good Samaritan discovered the drugs and contacted authorities. U.S. Border Patrol seized the drugs with a street value of more than $1 million.#hurricane #Debbie #Florida #FloridaKeys pic.twitter.com/nsjKu6qm8V
— Samuel Briggs II (@USBPChiefMIP) August 5, 2024
“Hurricane Debbie blew 25 boxes of cocaine (70 pounds) onto a beach in the Florida Keys. A good Samaritan discovered the drugs and contacted authorities. U.S. Border Patrol seized the drugs, which have a street value of over $1 million,” Briggs said. I have written On Twitter, people shared images of bricks taped together with a glowing red triangle on them.
The drugs were discovered by beachgoers who noticed them hidden in a garbage bag among seaweed, leaves and other debris that had washed up on the shore. according to After the drugs were discovered, the person contacted authorities and the U.S. Border Patrol seized the drugs, according to the New York Post.
Days in Florida during Hurricane Debbie. Looks like someone has diarrhea. 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/WPrCTzQ65d
— Sassafras 84 (@Sassafrass_84) August 5, 2024
According to a New York Post report, the incident is part of a broader pattern of chunks of cocaine and other illegal drugs frequently washing up on South Florida shores, a known drug smuggling route from South America to the U.S. In a related incident in June, a man searching for sea turtle nests on a North Florida beach stumbled upon chunks of cocaine worth $4 million, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by drug smuggling in coastal areas. (Related: Hurricane Debbie brings life-threatening forecasts to U.S.)
Hurricane Debby has since weakened to a tropical storm and is expected to continue to cause heavy rain and flooding as it moves north through Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, the outlet reported. The storm's widespread impacts prompted Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida to declare a state of emergency for 61 counties and left more than 274,000 homes without power.
At least four people have already died in the hurricane, including a 13-year-old boy who was killed when a tree fell on his home, according to the New York Post.
