A Miami-Dade deputy was ready to board a cruise. Then he was charged with selling pills

A Miami-Dade County sheriff’s deputy, set to embark on a four-day Royal Caribbean cruise Thursday, was jailed by his own agency after being caught selling ecstasy pills, according to authorities.

Francisco Melo, 36, a six-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, formerly Miami-Dade police, was charged with possession, sale and trafficking of a controlled substance. He has since been fired.

“I am disappointed to inform you that one of my deputies has been arrested for trafficking a controlled substance,” Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said in a statement.

According to the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office, investigators received information about Melo’s alleged involvement in drug activity. They set up a sting operation using a confidential informant, who purchased 12 ecstasy or MDMA pills from Melo for $240 on Dec. 20.

The informant told investigators Melo planned to smuggle drugs onto the cruise. A judge approved an arrest warrant on Wednesday, and deputies arrested Melo the following day at PortMiami as he prepared to board the ship, according to his arrest affidavit.

Investigators secured Melo’s luggage and requested his consent to search it, which he provided in writing, deputies say.

A narcotics detection dog named Roxi alerted investigators to the presence of drugs in the luggage, deputies say.

A search of the luggage revealed six Skittles candy bags. Investigators noticed some contents resembled MDMA pills in size and shape. Five of the six bags contained suspected MDMA pills. A total of 60 pills, weighing approximately 35 grams, were recovered, deputies say.

Investigators say the MDMA pills matched the shape, color, and size of those sold by Melo during the controlled drug purchase on Dec. 20.

Melo is jailed at Turner Guilford Correctional Center and his bond status is “to be set” as of Friday morning, jail records show.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney Office’s Public Corruption Prosecution Unit worked together to arrest Melo.

“The actions of this individual are a betrayal of the public trust and of all the deputies who work tirelessly to protect our community,” Cordero-Stutz said.

This story was originally published January 24, 2025 at 10:17 AM.