Florida Charter Boat Captain Arrested for Drug Smuggling

A charter boat captain in Florida is facing serious charges related to drug smuggling, as authorities claim he was involved in transporting drugs at sea to undercover agents.

Bradford Todd Picariello, 65, was taken into custody on Monday at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in the Florida Keys. He’s been charged with cocaine trafficking, selling cocaine, and possessing cocaine.

According to the authorities, Picariello arranged the drug deal through his company, Outlaw Fishing Charters, around 3 p.m. Monday. He reportedly instructed an undercover agent over the phone to bring a cooler, making it seem like he was picking up fish.

Interestingly, it was noted that he mentioned having an additional 100 pounds of cocaine in case of further purchases. When agents arrived at his boat, they provided a kilogram of cocaine to the agent posing as the buyer, which was then placed in the cooler.

As Picariello waited for the exchange of $10,000 in cash to finalize the deal, law enforcement moved in to arrest him.

Once in custody, authorities seized approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine, along with a .40 caliber handgun, and about $8,000 in cash. They also took possession of a 38-foot boat. Further investigations led police to discover an additional stash of nearly 24 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a storage area, wrapped in plastic with a distinct stamp.

In a statement, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsey expressed gratitude towards the members of the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies involved, commending their efforts in tackling this case and working to remove dangerous substances from communities. Picariello has since been moved to a local jail, and his case is set to be handled by federal authorities.