How Many Drugs Have Washed up on The Coast of Florida?

For many years now, Florida has been a well-known drug capital, especially in the days of "Cocaine Cowboys." For a long time, on any given day there are many reports that drugs have washed up on one of Florida's coasts. Billions of dollars of drugs during the last 20 years have been confiscated, which always make newspaper headlines, but these are only the drugs that are found. The types and amounts of drugs vary, but the following are the most common:

Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana, Ecstasy & Methamphetamine.

Even though some instances of methamphetamines, heroin & cocaine have washed up on the shore, marijuana has washed up on the shores of Florida much more than any of the others. On a consistent basis, large bales of marijuana wash up on Florida's shores and never get reported. What is so shocking is the dollar amounts of the drugs that wash up on the coasts - over the past 20 years, total to over a billion dollars. In 1997, Florida's shores recorded the largest amount of marijuana, which was 102,000 pounds.

No doubt, because Florida's coast is such a huge, water-based landscape, drugs are no stranger. Even though Dade and Broward counties are primarily where the drugs are found, they are still showing up more and more on other coastlines and shores further north in Florida. Such as the beaches in St. Johns County in May 2013 when $7 million in cocaine washed up, in the St. Augustine area; this was followed in September, when 16 kilos of cocaine washed up. The estimated per package value was between $22,000 & $36,000. The numbers keep fluctuating and is based on drugs washing up on the coastlines and found, and based on product. 70,000 pounds were found in 2009, in 2011 39,000 was found and in 2012 over 78,000 was found between Broward and Dade counties.  

Obviously, the drug trade is alive and well. Because of the huge water based landscape, smugglers find it easy to try and get their product on land, but it depends on how long the packages stay in the water, it may not be worth the effort. It is extremely important to know the laws as far as seizure of drugs and incriminating evidence. The penalties and implications can be quite severe if you are caught participating in any type of smuggling activities or in possession of drugs.

If you or a friend run into problems, having the help of an experienced attorney will protect both your assets and yourself. What is important is having an attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable and understands the intricacies of the laws in Florida. The difference between serving time, staying free and not getting railroaded by the system, could depend on what steps you take to have proper representation. Your local criminal attorney can help you if you have a pending drug offense.