Coast Guard Seizes Cocaine and Marijuana from Boat off Fort Lauderdale

A 33-year-old man is jailed on federal drug trafficking charges after a routine boarding uncovered a hidden stash of drugs.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A Coast Guard boarding off Fort Lauderdale uncovered 68 bricks of cocaine and 14 bricks of marijuana aboard the 45-foot pleasure boat Sea Ray Lady B. Authorities arrested 33-year-old Rudalph Hylton, who allegedly told investigators he was offered $100,000 to transport the drugs from Jamaica to South Florida.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to interdict drug smuggling operations along the South Florida coast. The seizure of over 70 kilograms of cocaine and 12 kilograms of marijuana represents a significant disruption to the drug trade in the region.

The details

During a routine boarding, Coast Guard crew members noticed manipulated panels, fresh fiberglass work, and a small opening that led to a concealed compartment below the cabin of the Sea Ray Lady B. Inside, they found 68 bricks of cocaine totaling over 70 kilograms and 14 bricks of marijuana weighing around 12 kilograms. Two men, Rudalph Hylton and Aldon Delano Brown, were on board at the time.

  • The Coast Guard boarded the vessel about eight nautical miles northeast of Haulover Inlet on February 24, 2026.
  • Hylton is scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing on March 2, 2026 in federal court.

The players

Rudalph Hylton

A 33-year-old man who was arrested and charged with federal drug trafficking offenses after the Coast Guard discovered the hidden drug stash on the boat he was operating.

Aldon Delano Brown

A man who was on board the Sea Ray Lady B with Hylton at the time of the Coast Guard boarding, but did not appear in jail records as of the time of reporting.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge

The Coast Guard vessel whose crew members conducted the boarding that led to the drug seizure.

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What they’re saying

“Hylton told investigators he and Brown had taken the Lady B from Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica about a month earlier, and that he was offered $100,000 to bring the boat back to South Florida knowing illegal narcotics would be hidden on board.”

— Rudalph Hylton (WPLG Local 10)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on March 2, 2026 whether or not to allow Rudalph Hylton to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This bust highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat drug smuggling operations along the South Florida coast. The seizure of over 70 kilograms of cocaine and 12 kilograms of marijuana represents a significant disruption to the regional drug trade, though the involvement of a second suspect remains unclear.