Operation Everglades
Operation Everglades  
Podcast: History Dispatches
Published On: Thu Jan 08 2026
Description: In the 1970s and 80s the swamps of south Florida became the perfect place to smuggle drugs into the United States. And the fishermen of the swamps were the perfect smugglers to ferry these illicit goods. The epicenter of this smuggling was Everglades City where almost the entire town was involved in the drug trade. This all came to a head in 1983 with Operation Everglades where nearly 80% of the adult male population was arrested for their involvement in smuggling. This is the story of Operation Everglades. Sources https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/drug-smuggling http://www.floridahistorynetwork.com/july-7-1983---operation-everglades-drug-bust-rocks-everglades-city.html https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/779/779.F2d.1520.84-5499.84-5472.html History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices