Powerful Federal Sting Uncovers Massive Cocaine Operation on the Water Staff Reports January 20, 2026 5:26 pm Crime, Florida In Brief: Authorities say a Marathon charter captain sold cocaine to undercover officers during a sting. Investigators seized 23 kilograms of cocaine, cash, a firearm, and a vessel. The case remains under investigation, with potential additional arrests pending. MARATHON, Fla. — A longtime Florida Keys charter boat captain is behind bars after federal investigators say he sold cocaine to undercover officers as part of a multi-agency maritime drug trafficking operation. Authorities identified the suspect as Bradford Todd Picariello, 65, of Marathon, who was arrested January 19, 2026, following an undercover sting that allegedly exposed a large-scale cocaine distribution network tied to boating activity in the Keys. According to investigators, Picariello sold one kilogram of cocaine to undercover detectives in exchange for $10,000 in cash. During the transaction, authorities say Picariello claimed the narcotics had been recovered at sea — a tactic commonly linked to maritime smuggling operations. Following the arrest, law enforcement executed search warrants that led to the seizure of approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine, a 38-foot vessel believed to have been used in the operation, $8,000 in cash, and a .40-caliber handgun. Picariello is now facing federal drug trafficking charges, including counts related to the sale and possession of cocaine. The arrest has sent shockwaves through the Marathon community, where Picariello has been a familiar figure for decades. He operated Outlaw Sport Fishing, a family-run charter business that has...
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