Nine men were arrested at Port Miami as they attempted to board the Atlantis-chartered cruise aboard Symphony of the Seas, billed as the world’s biggest gay festival at sea. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers flagged luggage during outbound screening at Port Miami, leading to drug-related arrests involving MDMA, LSD, cocaine, and other substances. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Detective Joseph R. Peguero Rivera said, “MDSO arrested a total of nine individuals on various drug-related charges.” Those charged include passengers from California, Tennessee, Georgia, Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Florida. Among them are a Meta manager, a nurse, and a political aide.
Arrest reports show all were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. One defendant, Adam Jones, denies the allegations. His attorney said, “The defense is confident their investigation will demonstrate that he was falsely accused and will be able to show that none of the impounded items belonged to him.” The cruise was chartered by Atlantis Events, whose voyages have previously faced scrutiny following onboard medical emergencies. LGBTQ+ travel company VACAYA responded by stressing a zero-tolerance approach, warning that “no vacation is worth that cost.” The ship is scheduled to return to Miami on Sunday.
