A joint operation between the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resulted in the seizure of 173 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $14.7 million, transported in a truck intercepted on the Florida Turnpike, in the southern part of the state.
The seizure, carried out on October 5, 2025, was officially announced ten days later by the executive office of Governor Ron DeSantis, highlighting the significance of the operation as part of his "zero tolerance" policy towards illegal drugs in the state.
The alert was issued by the DEA office in West Palm Beach, which warned the FHP about "intelligence information regarding a suspicious semi-truck believed to be transporting narcotics from the Mexico-Texas border to South Florida."
The inspection and the discovery
The agents of the Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU) of the FHP located the vehicle traveling south and proceeded to make a lawful traffic stop on the highway.
During the inspection, the officers detected "a hidden trapdoor that contained several canvas bags filled with cocaine," according to an official statement.
The occupants of the truck were arrested and placed in federal custody, and it was revealed that one of them had previously been deported from the United States.
The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed, as the case remains under federal jurisdiction.
The discovery is significant not only because of the volume—equivalent to 381 pounds of cocaine—but also because of the context: the drug was hidden in a concealed compartment, a method commonly used by criminal organizations to evade road checks.
"Such seizures are possible when there is inter-agency coordination," stated Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins.
Political message: Drugs, border, and order
The operation has been presented by the authorities as an example of police effectiveness and federal-state coordination, in line with the security rhetoric of the current state administration.
“Florida continues to be a state of law and order under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis”, emphasized the official statement, adding that “when we work together, we stop dangerous drugs before they reach our streets.”
Vice Governor Jay Collins was emphatic:
"Our message to drug traffickers is clear: do not bring your poison to our state. We will find you, arrest you, and we will always be on the front lines to protect Floridians."
The governor's office also referenced national immigration and border policy, attributing the supposed "security on the southern border" to the pressure that forces cartels to adopt new, riskier land routes.
"With the closure of the southern border, transnational drug trafficking cartels can no longer cross the border simply with weapons, drugs, and human messengers," stated Dave Kerner, executive director of the FHP. "This allows us to trace the supply chain back to its origin and target the source of evil: the criminal cartels and their resources."
Florida, a key route for drug trafficking
The case is not isolated. According to official data, since 2019 the FHP has seized over 14,000 kilograms of illegal drugs in various highway operations.
Among these figures, 925 kilograms of cocaine, 23.5 of fentanyl, 14 of heroin, 9,600 of marijuana, and 19 of MDMA stand out.
The Florida Turnpike, one of the busiest corridors for interstate transport in the southern part of the state, has been identified as a key secondary route for drug traffickers looking to evade border reinforcements along the Mexico-Texas line.
These land routes have become focal points for drug enforcement operations, utilizing sophisticated concealment techniques such as false compartments in cargo vehicles, which complicate routine inspections.
The detainees remain under federal investigation and could face charges for interstate and international drug trafficking, in addition to other related charges such as illegal re-entry into the country for the deported individual.
The case could pave the way for broader investigations into transnational criminal networks operating between Mexico and the southern United States. According to the statement, authorities are focusing not only on the seizure but also on tracing the supply chain back to its origins.
"Florida will continue to lead with decisive action, unwavering law enforcement, and strong interagency cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking operations and ensure that criminal organizations do not find refuge in the Sunshine State," the official statement concluded.
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