$1.2 million of cocaine found on Florida beach during sea turtle nesting survey

Florida officials discovered an estimated $1.2 million worth of cocaine while performing a sea turtle nesting survey last month.

Angy Chambers, 45th Civil Engineer Squadron wildlife manager, was patrolling a Cape Canaveral Space Force Station beach and performing the survey when she said she noticed a small package wrapped in tape and plastic, according to a Thursday statement.

She believed the package could be drugs, so she contacted officials to come to the scene. After she called officials, she noticed several other similar packages. 

“While I was waiting for them to arrive, I drove a little further and noticed another package, and then another. At that point, I called SFS (Security Forces Squadron) back and suggested they bring their UTV, or Utility Terrain Vehicle, as I counted at least 18 packages.”

A Brevard County Sheriff’s Office narcotics agent tested the packages and verified that they contained cocaine, according to the statement. Officials tracked down 24 packages in total, amounting to nearly 30 kilograms of cocaine, which were handed over the Homeland Security officials.

The sheriff’s office estimated that the drugs have a value of approximately $1.2 million. 

David Castro, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, said that maritime drug traffickers will often transport shipments of controlled substances in containers of 25 “bricks,” meaning kilograms of drugs. 

The origin of the drugs remains under investigation, according to the statement.

“We take pride in protecting our base and the surrounding community,” Joseph Parker, 45th Security Forces Squadron flight sergeant, said in the statement. “There is also a higher level of job satisfaction knowing that these drugs will not make it into our community.”