A Ton of Cocaine Seized Near Florida
Some people embellish a little when they say they caught a ton of fish the other day. Not CBP as a ton of cocaine was seized near Florida.
We all have one friend that embellishes just a little. They either have caught the biggest of fish, drank the most beer, or slayed the most women back in high school. Well, that is not us and we are not him when we say that Border Patrol Agents seized 2,262 pounds of that good old booger sugar on its way to Humacao, Puerto Rico. They calculated the value to be $23.5 million.
Friday CBP agents from Jacksonville were traveling the open waters when they saw a boat with two outboard engines and 3 crew members running around on deck. The boat was heading to a nearby island, so they maintained visual on it until they were able to get other boats to intercept it. When they overtook the boat, they found 36 bales of Cocaine on board with the crew. Two non-citizens from the Dominican Republic and one non-citizen from Colombia were arrested.
Now if you want to put this into perspective this is the second most successful capture in 2023. So apparently the ton of cocaine seized near Florida is not that big compared to other busts. Right now CBP is reporting to have already captured over 15,675 lbs. of cocaine nationwide. [Source WFLA]
Tampa Stores Where You Can Find The Perfect Pirate Costume For Gasparilla
Arrgghhh matey’s! Gasparilla is right around the corner and before you know it, you’ll be scrambling to make the perfect pirate costume. We’re here to make your search easy by listing the best 10 stores in Tampa where you can find the perfect Gasparilla gear! The invasion of pirates will take place on January 27. Here’s more info on this year’s parade.
Whether you’re looking for some authentic pirate costumes or just need some accessories, head to these stores for all your Gaspy needs! 10 Tampa Bay (WTSP) made a great list with some good starter places. But if you don’t want to rely on Amazon or Etsy to get your stuff on time, there are plenty of local places to try! It’s still too early to tell what the weather will be like on the day of the Children’s and adult parades. It’s normally around the mid-60s to high 70s, so you may need to dress warm!
History of the Gasparilla Parade
Tampa has been celebrating Gasparilla since 1904. Each year, a merry band of pirates invades the city, with a parade down Tampa’s famous Bayshore Blvd. What originally started as a spring festival for the “May Day” celebration. Tampa Tribune Society Editor Mary Louise Dodge was helping plan the multiple-day event when George Hardee suggested including the legend of Gasparilla. Then the Tampa Tribune began publishing letters from the Ye Mystic Krewe, detailing the invasion. Read more of the history here.
The legend of Gasparilla
Gasparilla is inspired by true events. Jose Gaspar, or Jose Gasparilla was a famous Spanish pirate who earned a fortune by capturing ships and treasure. In 1821 the US Navy launched a disguised attack on Jose’s ship. Admitting defeat, he tied himself to an anchor and jumped into the ocean, never seen again.
[Source: 10 Tampa Bay]
Here’s our list of 10 stores in Tampa where you can find the perfect pirate costume:
Jeff Zito or just "Zito" as he is known to his friends, was born in Summit, NJ. Zito is the afternoon personality and program director of 987 the Shark. He has been with Beasley Media Group since 1999. Zito aspired to be a professional golfer and attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI majoring in PGM (pro golf management). Yes, that is a real major! After college, Zito was an assistant golf professional at the Meadows Country Club in Sarasota. Zito is an avid Bucs fan who likes to paddle board and can sometimes be spotted around the Bay area drinking a margarita. You can read his content about Tampa Bay sports, lifestyle, and celebrities’ first jobs.
