A Florida sheriff had one plan to give a criminal $1 million that surprised everyone

Florida produces a different breed of criminals from the rest of the country. 

Law enforcement in the Sunshine State can find themselves in some unusual situations. 

And a Florida sheriff had one plan to give a criminal $1 million that surprised everyone. 

Florida fisherman discovers $1.7 million worth of cocaine in the ocean 

A fisherman in Florida made a catch that he did not expect in the Atlantic Ocean. 

The man found cocaine floating in the ocean about 15 nautical miles from Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

He contacted the Coast Guard after he discovered it but none of their ships were available to pick it up. 

So, he hauled the massive stash of cocaine with him back to shore where he turned it over to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

The 55 pounds worth of cocaine was wrapped in waterproof packaging and featured a scorpion symbol on it which law enforcement thought was a marking used by the Mexican drug cartels. 

Sheriff’s deputies estimated that it had a street value of $1.7 million.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey joked that the cocaine “inadvertently fell (off) the back of someone’s boat as they were apparently enjoying a leisurely stroll along the beautiful coastline and beaches of Brevard County!”

Florida sheriff offers to reunite lost cocaine with its owner 

Sheriff Ivey welcomed whoever lost their cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean to come to claim it from him. 

“All of us at one point or another in our lives have lost or misplaced something important and are always hopeful that a good Samaritan or an incredibly kind person will find our lost item and do the right thing,” Ivey wrote on social media. “At the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, we always strive to do the right thing.”

Ivey is known for finding a way to have fun with his job. 

“If you happened to have lost or misplaced approximately 25 kilos of cocaine and would like to have your property returned,” Ivey declared, “we will be more than happy to reunite you with your lost property!”

The sheriff noted that the scorpion logo would make it easy for anyone to identify the item. 

“All we need you to do is come down to our Criminal Investigative Services and claim your property with absolutely no strings attached!” Ivey stated. “Once we properly identify you as the rightful owner we will gladly return your property and also make sure that both you and your property are kept in a secure area so that no one can try to rip you off!”

The secure location was the Brevard County Jail which he called the “Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge.”

Ivey promised whoever claimed the cocaine could enjoy an all-expenses-paid “staycation.”

 “So, if the 25 kilos of coke belongs to you, all we need you to do is come down to our Criminal Investigative Services building on Gus Hipp Blvd in Rockledge and claim your property with absolutely no strings attached!!” Ivey joked. 

Cocaine washing on the beaches of Florida or being discovered in the oceans happens several times a year. 

Sheriff Wayne Ivey can maintain his sense of humor while doing the tough job of law enforcement.