Charter Boat Captain Arrested After Undercover Sale Of Cocaine Found At Sea

A Florida Keys charter boat captain has been arrested for allegedly selling cocaine that was found at sea, authorities said.

Bradford Todd Picariello, 65, from Marathon, Florida, was taken into custody on 19 January 2026 after special detectives from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office bought one kilogram of cocaine from him for $10,000 in cash.

The arrest led to the seizure of about 23 kilograms of cocaine, a 38-foot boat, $8,000 in cash, and a .40-calibre handgun, officials said.

Picariello has been charged with trafficking, selling, and possessing cocaine. He was booked into jail and is expected to face federal prosecution.

The investigation was led by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and included several federal agencies, such as the DEA, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP Air and Marine Operations and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area investigators.

Sheriff Rick Ramsay thanked all the officers and federal partners involved, saying their work helps keep dangerous drugs out of the community.

Authorities said that cocaine is often smuggled across Caribbean waters using boats. Smugglers sometimes dump drugs at sea to avoid detection, but packages can end up floating in the ocean or washing ashore.

Florida has seen multiple similar incidents in recent years, including cocaine recovered after storms or by fishermen off the coast.

No further details have been released about how the drugs in this case were initially recovered. The investigation is ongoing as the case moves to federal court.

References: fox13news, nbcmiami

Source: Maritime Shipping News