Florida deputy tried to sneak 60 MDMA pills onto cruise ship in Skittles bags: officials
Francisco Melo has been relieved of his duties as a deputy for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office after he was arrested for attempting to smuggle MDMA pills onto a cruise ship by hiding them in Skittles bags, authorities said.
Melo was taken into custody before he boarded the cruise ship at Port Miami.
A total of 60 MDMA pills were found during a search of his luggage.
MIAMI-DADE, Fla. - A Florida deputy was arrested last week after he was caught trying to sneak MDMA pills onto a cruise ship in Skittles bags, authorities said.
The backstory
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office launched an investigation in December 2024 into one of its own deputies, Francisco Melo, after he was identified as a MDMA dealer, according to an arrest affidavit.
Authorities used a confidential informant, who arranged a purchase from Melo, buying 12 MDMA pills for $240.
The informant later told deputies that Melo was scheduled to sail aboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas cruise ship at Port Miami on Jan. 23, and that the deputy was expected to smuggle MDMA pills onto the ship by hiding them inside Skittles candy bags.
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Investigators then secured an arrest warrant with the intention of taking him into custody before he boarded the ship at Port Miami.
At the port, they stopped Melo as he exited his vehicle and requested to search his luggage, which he consented to.
Law enforcement found six Skittles candy bags in his luggage – five of which contained MDMA pills, authorities said. A total of 60 pills, weighing 35 grams, were recovered from his luggage.
Deputies said the pills in his luggage matched the shape, color and size of the pills Melo previously sold to the informant, officials said.
He was arrested and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where he remains.
Francisco Melo was employed as a deputy and was a 6-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
He was relieved of duty and faces charges of possession, sale, and trafficking of a controlled substance.
What they're saying"As sheriff, it's my duty to make sure that our community can trust our deputies to protect them and uphold the law. I am disappointed to inform you that one of my deputies has been arrested for trafficking a controlled substance.Narcotics don't just harm those who use them, they devastate families, and fuel crime. No one is above the law, and this office will not tolerate criminal behavior from anyone, especially those entrusted to enforce it. The actions of this individual are a betrayal of the public trust and of all the deputies who work tirelessly to protect our community. We will cooperate fully with the State Attorney's Office throughout the legal process." Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defines the illegal drug of methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, as a "party drug" that "acts as both a stimulant and a psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, distortions in time and perception, and enhanced enjoyment of tactile experiences."
Known by the street name of ectasy or molly, the psychoactive drug reduces inhibitions, often promoting euphoria, feelings of closeness, empathy, and sexuality, officials said.
"Users of MDMA experience many of the same effects and face many of the same risks as users of other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines," according to a statement on the DEA's website. "These include increased motor activity, alertness, heart rate, and blood pressure."
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The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration's website.
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