MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) — A Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy was arrested Friday after he was reportedly caught attempting to smuggle medication onto a cruise ship by hiding the tablets in Skittles luggage.
Francisco Melo, 36, had been a Miami-Dade deputy for the previous six years, in accordance with studies by NBC 6 South Florida. Nevertheless, he discovered himself behind bars Friday morning.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned Melo was relieved of obligation following his arrest. Based on arrest studies, Melo was taken into custody on the Royal Caribbean terminal in PortMiami.
Investigators mentioned Melo was nearly to board Royal Caribbean’s Attract of the Seas, which had been privately chartered and was internet hosting a four-day music pageant, when he was stopped and searched.
Detectives mentioned that they had obtained info indicating that Melo deliberate to smuggle methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, tablets on board. The drug can be generally often called ecstasy or molly.
A search of Melo’s baggage revealed 60 tablets hidden inside Skittles sweet luggage, investigators reported. A confidential informant had reportedly bought the identical sort of tablets from Melo in December final yr.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz expressed her disappointment within the deputy in a press release supplied to NBC 6, saying partially, “Narcotics do not simply hurt those that use them, they devastate households, and gas crime. Nobody is above the legislation, and this workplace is not going to tolerate legal conduct from anybody, particularly these entrusted to implement it. The actions of this particular person are a betrayal of the general public belief and of all of the deputies who work tirelessly to guard our group. We are going to cooperate absolutely with the state lawyer’s workplace all through the authorized course of.”
Melo was charged with possession, sale and trafficking of a managed substance. As of Friday, he was being held within the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Middle with a $25,000 bond.
