Mississippi man arrested for trying to steal cocaine that washed ashore on the Biloxi Beach

The Biloxi Police Department arrested a man on Monday for trying to steal bricks of cocaine that washed ashore over the weekend.

37-year-old Joey Lee Ware has been charged with aggravated trafficking of controlled substances after being found in possession of a brick and a half of cocaine. He received a $150,000 bail.

“Instead of calling us like everybody should be doing, he tried to use it for his own gains. Officers were notified of this information and he was arrested,” said Police Captain Tommy Goldsworthy told WLOX.

The drugs were found along the beach while volunteers with the Kessler Air Force Base were cleaning and discovered eight bricks, valued at $1,000,000.

A field test was performed by the Biloxi PD and confirmed the substance was cocaine. The packages had a “Dior” label written on the which could lead investigators to their origin.

“Keesler has a lot of volunteers that come out and maintain that area of the beach, and while they were doing so they noticed a package in the water and while they were doing so they noticed several more,” stated Goldsworthy.

Biloxi PD is currently working with Customs Boarder Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Drug Enforcement Administration on this case.

Law Enforcement is asking individuals to report anything suspicious going on along the beach.