Stock Island family arrested with 8 kilos of cocaine, undersized lobster tails
A Stock Island family was arrested Wednesday night as law enforcement agencies seized large quantities of drugs, 500 undersized lobster tails, property and cash.
As the result of an ongoing investigation, authorities arrested Juan Soca Sr., 63; Juan Soca Jr., 42, and Jose Soca, 38, at their family compound, which includes two trailers at 6451 Sixth St. According to Becky Herrin of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, search warrants were obtained after Soca Jr. sold 1.5 ounces of cocaine to an undercover officer.
“This is not the first time we have served drug related search warrants on the Soca property,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay in the report. “But we are going to do everything we can to make sure it is the last. The drug activity by these members of the Soca family is a danger to everyone in our county. The detectives who worked on this case – from multiple agencies – did an outstanding job of stopping these criminals. This operation will really make a dent in the drug activity in our community.”
“This significant drug bust is an example of why it is imperative that our agencies work collaboratively to address crimes in the Lower Keys,” said Key West Police Chief Donie Lee.
The sale and the search warrants were the culmination of a joint investigation between the Sheriff’s Office, Key West Police, the Monroe High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group (Monroe HIDTA), Key West HIDTA Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Soca Sr. and Jose Soca were arrested at the Stock Island compound, while Soca Jr. was found at a S. Roosevelt Blvd. with approximately 300 oxycodone pills in his possession.
Detectives searched the two trailers at the compound Wednesday and Thursday and found drugs and money buried in the ground, hidden in concealed compartments, false electrical boxes and in a boat fender nailed to a fence which looked like a decoration.
Discovered were eight kilos of cocaine, 2,100 xanax bars, 580 oxycodone pills, a crack cocaine cookie weighing seven grams, more than $75,000 in cash and 14 bags of approximately 500 frozen undersized lobster tails.
All three men face charges of trafficking in cocaine. Jose Soca faces additional charges of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of the undersized lobster tails. Soca Jr. faces additional charges related to the drugs he possessed when he was arrested. More charges are pending.
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Thanks for reporting in detail. Keep us posted about this harmful to society bunch of thugs.