A Florida charter boat captain has found himself in legal hot water after a daring sting operation led to his arrest on charges of drug trafficking. Local authorities claim that Bradford Todd Picariello, aged 65, attempted to sell a kilogram of cocaine, allegedly obtained from the ocean, for the sum of $10,000. However, unbeknownst to him, the entire transaction was part of a planned undercover operation orchestrated by law enforcement.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, in a recent social media update, confirmed Picariello’s arrest on January 19. This orchestrated operation sheds light on the creative tactics employed in combating the illegal drug trade.
In an unexpected twist, USA Today highlighted details from the arrest report revealing that Picariello advised an informant to bring a cooler to the exchange to give the appearance of a fishing trip. He also suggested the possibility of acquiring an additional “100 pounds” of cocaine in the future, indicating a potentially larger operation at play.
The successful sting operation led to the seizure of approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine, $8,000 in cash, and a 38-foot vessel. Authorities also confiscated a .40-caliber handgun, further underscoring the serious nature of this case.
USA Today, citing an arrest report with details about the incident, reported that Picariello told a law enforcement source to bring a cooler to the drug sale to “make it look as though he was getting fish,” and said he had an additional “100 pounds” of cocaine that could also be purchased in the future.
“Approximately 23 kilograms were seized altogether, along with $8,000 in cash, and a 38-foot vessel,” the sheriff’s office said in their statement. “A .40-caliber handgun was also seized.”
Twenty-three kilograms is equivalent to around 50 pounds.
Picariello was charged with trafficking, possessing and selling cocaine. He is expected to be prosecuted federally, the sheriff’s office said. He is from Marathon, a city in the Florida Keys with a population of around 10,000. It’s unclear where Picariello was arrested.
