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Charter fisherman catches kilo of cocaine off Miami coast

By Ben Hooper
Mark Quartiano, aka "Mark the Shark," holds the package of cocaine his charter fishing boat found off the coast of Miami. Screenshot: WPLG-TV
Mark Quartiano, aka "Mark the Shark," holds the package of cocaine his charter fishing boat found off the coast of Miami. Screenshot: WPLG-TV

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MIAMI, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- A Florida charter boat captain contacted the Coast Guard when he reeled in an unusual catch -- a kilo of cocaine floating off the Miami coast.

Mark Quartiano, aka "Mark the Shark," was fishing with charter clients about 2 miles off the Miami coast Wednesday when he and his crew spotted a package floating in the water.

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The package was caught with a net and brought aboard, where Quartiano discovered it was a kilo of cocaine -- 2.2 pounds of the drug.

Quartiano, who chronicled the find on Instagram, said it was the first time he had found cocaine in his 40 years of fishing.

"I've found marijuana, but never cocaine like this," Quartiano told the Miami New Times.

Quartiano said the package was turned over to the Coast Guard when he returned to shore.

"Lo and behold, it was one of those square grouper," Quartiano joked to WPLG-TV.

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