Passerby Finds Suspected Cocaine Package in Key Largo Mangroves

A volunteer cleaning debris along East Beach Road at Harry Harris Park in Key Largo discovered a package suspected to contain cocaine lodged in the mangroves about 5:40 p.m. on Feb. 2. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified, responded to the scene and collected the single package for further examination.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office officials said the package was marked with the numbers "332" and was found intertwined within the park’s mangrove growth. Deputies removed the item and secured it as evidence; officials have not reported any arrests or lab confirmation that the contents were cocaine. No additional packages were found in the immediate area, and the investigation remains active.

Law enforcement emphasized public safety and reporting. "The concerned citizen immediately notified deputies, who arrived and collected the package for further examination. No additional packages were found in the area, and the investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who encounters suspicious items to leave them undisturbed and contact local authorities." The sheriff’s office has also posted to social media raising concerns about drug trafficking routes and local security after contraband was found along a shoreline often used in illicit transit.

The discovery highlights a recurring challenge for Monroe County shoreline communities. Separate incidents in the Florida Keys have involved shorelines and local cleanups: a report from Islamorada described a suspected brick of cocaine found near the Tea Table Bridge that was turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and an earlier case in Key Largo involved divers recovering 25 individually wrapped packages from about 100 feet underwater that were later turned over to U.S. Border Patrol. Those incidents are distinct from the Harry Harris Park finding and have not been linked by authorities to the Feb. 2 discovery.

For residents and the many volunteers who take part in coastal cleanups, the episode underscores the risks sometimes encountered during environmental stewardship. Mangrove shorelines and public beaches are shared spaces for families, boaters and workers in the Keys, and unexpected encounters with suspected contraband raise questions about enforcement, shoreline monitoring and safe procedures for volunteer groups.

What happens next will depend on forensic testing and any investigative leads developed by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. In the meantime, officials repeat the guidance to leave suspicious items where they are and notify law enforcement so trained personnel can handle evidence safely. Local residents and volunteer groups planning future cleanups should be aware of that advisory and expect investigators to provide updates as the probe proceeds.