Florida Fishermen Discover Cocaine Bricks at Sea, Some Turning to Trafficking

Anglers fishing off the Florida Keys are increasingly encountering unexpected hauls: bricks of cocaine and marijuana dropped by drug smugglers, often referred to as 'square groupers.' While some residents are turning these illegal finds over to authorities, others are risking serious prison time to profit from the narcotics.

Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay stated that it is a weekly occurrence for someone to find a square grouper. He estimates that only about half of these illicit packages make it back to the sheriff's office, with the majority suspected of heading to Miami. "It's a lot of money, a kilo is potentially $20,000. So people want to get rich quick," Ramsay explained, noting that "greed gets in place."

In the past year, Ramsay estimates 40 to 50 kilos of uncut cocaine have been recovered by his office. Authorities believe the drugs originate from the Caribbean, Colombia, and the southern parts of the Bahamas. Symbols, such as numbers or photos, adorning the packages are believed to identify the intended recipient rather than the owner.

Authorities attribute a recent increase in these discoveries to stepped-up U.S.-Mexico border security. "Now that that southwest border is shut down, we've seen more dope floating up the last couple years, which would give us an indication that more dope is starting to come back in through the water," Ramsay said. This contrasts with the 1970s through 1990s, when hundreds of kilos would wash ashore. Current finds are typically between 50 to 100 kilos.

Smuggling tactics have evolved. In earlier decades, high-speed boats were common. Now, smugglers reportedly use hidden compartments in sailboats. Historically, these packages predominantly contained marijuana until the 1980s, when cocaine became more prevalent. Local historian Brad Bertelli noted that in past decades, finding these packages was a common "side gig" for many local fishermen, with areas like the Everglades and the Keys becoming notorious for it. He added, "It became a way to make a living. It was risky, but it was good money."

Sometimes, square groupers are exchanged directly from boat to boat. In other instances, smugglers may offload them if they fear detection by federal authorities. During the 1980s, Sea Oats Beach in Islamorada gained the nickname "Bale Beach" due to the frequency of these packages washing ashore.

More recently, in 2024, approximately $1.6 million worth of drugs washed ashore on the island following Hurricane Debby. One individual discovered 25 packages of cocaine valued at $1 million. A week later, boaters found a 56-pound batch worth $625,000 near Everglades City.

The phenomenon has become so ingrained that the Florida Keys have embraced the reputation. A popular local restaurant is even named after the 'square grouper.'

Despite the cultural integration, law enforcement continues to pursue those involved in trafficking. In August, three men were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for operating a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation in the Keys between 2020 and 2023. John Robert Strama Jr., Pedro Luis Lugo Jr., and Elvis Lazaro Ruiz were among 27 individuals federally charged. Strama, identified as the group's leader, reportedly recovered many of the drug bricks himself at sea.

In January, charter boat captain Bradford Picariello, 65, was arrested and accused of trafficking cocaine. He pleaded not guilty in September and faces a potential sentence of 10 years to life if convicted. He allegedly sold a kilogram to an undercover detective for $10,000 and was reportedly found with 23 kilos following his arrest. His attorney, Joseph Rosenbaum, has stated they intend to fight the charges.