WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A massive drug bust that started with a tip in West Palm Beach led to nearly $15 million worth of cocaine being taken off Florida’s streets.
Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins joined law enforcement leaders at the DEA’s Palm Beach Field Office Wednesday to announce the seizure, calling it a powerful example of teamwork between local, state, and federal agencies.
Officials said a tip to the DEA’s West Palm Beach office sent Florida Highway Patrol troopers after a semi-truck traveling south on the Florida Turnpike. When troopers stopped the truck in a county north of West Palm Beach, they found 173 kilos — 146 bricks — of cocaine hidden inside, heading into South Florida.
“I’ve done a lot of things around the planet, but I’ve never seen a wall filled with cocaine before,” Collins said.
According to investigators, the truck was suspected of hauling narcotics from the Mexico-Texas border into South Florida. Those involved, including one person who had previously been deported from the United States were taken into custody and turned over to federal authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
“If you bring that junk to the state of Florida, our law enforcement will find you, they’ll hold you accountable, and you’re going to jail,” Collins added.
The West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo praised the collaboration between the DEA, Florida Highway Patrol, and local departments and gave credit to Scout, the drug-detection dog who helped locate the hidden compartment.
“If you’re here to poison our people, our children, our neighbors, our friends, look over your shoulder,” Araujo said. “The collaboration with Florida law enforcement is the best I’ve seen in a long time.”
Officials say getting the truck off the road kept thousands of doses of cocaine from ever reaching Florida communities and likely saved lives.
“This operation ultimately stopped untold amounts of destruction and harm to our communities here in Palm Beach County and beyond,” said Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Law enforcement called this a prime example of what can happen when agencies work together to keep drugs off Florida’s streets. They said it’s still an ongoing investigation, and more information will be released as it becomes available.
