A video of a Florida man pulling a tarp-wrapped package out of the ocean sparked a furious online frenzy, with speculation he had recovered millions of dollars from the sea. The unidentified man was filmed hauling the bundle as it washed up on the shore at Fort Lauderdale Beach on May 18.
Viral Speculation
Many began speculating the man had stumbled upon a mega payday hidden in the water-logged package, which measured a couple of feet in height. Hopes were raised even further when a glimpse inside the bag showed a stack of brick-like packages neatly nestled together.
Authorities Weigh In
But the Daily Mail can now confirm the package more than likely contained drugs, according to the authorities. 'The item was suspected narcotics,' Fort Lauderdale Police told the Daily Mail on Tuesday. The item washed up on shore around 11am, police said. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been announced.
It is unclear how the package made it to shore and who it belonged to.
Social Media Reactions
Many social media users began speculating that it was 'square groupers,' which are tightly-wrapped packages of marijuana. Others joked they wouldn't have informed authorities and kept the goodies for themselves.
- 'Maybe I'm old school, but finders keepers,' one man wrote on social media where the video attracted just under a million views on TikTok.
- 'That brother could have, should have, would have, and must have taken some stacks before calling 911,' another social media user wrote.
- 'Damn, I always go on the beach on the wrong day,' another wrote.
- 'The self-control here deserves its own medal,' an X user wrote.
Others speculated the package contained cartel money and said the man did the right thing by contacting police. Florida law requires a person to report lost or abandoned property or run the risk of being charged with theft.
