Plane crash off Florida coast reveals $30K and drug smuggling arrest
A small plane carrying 11 passengers and a pilot crashed about 80 miles off the coast of Melbourne, Florida. All on board survived and were later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force after spending roughly five hours stranded at sea. The crash occurred in open water, prompting a swift response from emergency teams. Rescuers located the survivors and airlifted them to safety. Some received medical treatment for minor injuries, but all have since been discharged or remain in stable condition.
Among the passengers was Jonathan Gardiner, who was found with three phones and a brown paper bag containing $30,000 in Bahamian currency. The cash was marked with the name of a Bahamian politician previously connected to cocaine shipments from Colombia. Following the crash, Gardiner was arrested and charged with one count of cocaine import conspiracy, allegedly involving smuggling activities since 2023. The investigation into the crash and the smuggling allegations remains ongoing. Gardiner’s arrest follows the discovery of the marked cash and his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Authorities have not yet released further details on the cause of the crash or additional charges.
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