MONROE COUNTY, FL – If Monroe County K9 Coral’s New Year’s resolution was to help his fellow human police officers sniff out the bad guys, mission accomplished. Coral helped the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department capture a Miami cocaine runner bringing his shipment down to the Florida Keys for distribution.
A 43-year-old Miami man was arrested Monday morning following a traffic stop in which more than six ounces of cocaine and more than $3,000 in cash were found. Lazaro Rodriguez was charged with trafficking cocaine.
Monroe Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Joel Slough stopped a 2014 Ford Explorer at approximately 9:09 a.m. on U.S. 1 near 63rd Street for weaving around traffic without using turn signals.
K9 Coral responded and alerted to drugs in the vehicle. Approximately 6.1 ounces of cocaine and $3,074 in cash in suspected drug proceeds were found in the vehicle.
Rodriguez stated the cocaine was his as there was a female passenger in the vehicle. Rodriguez stated he buys the cocaine in Miami and sells it in the Keys. Rodriguez was taken to jail. The passenger was not charged.