A major human and drug smuggling operation was intercepted off the Florida coast, leading to dozens of arrests and the seizure of a large amount of cocaine, authorities said.

The investigation began on Aug. 29 when authorities received intelligence that an Airbnb had been rented in Fort Pierce by a group of men who were planning to travel to the Bahamas to smuggle drugs and humans into the U.S., St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office officials said in a news release Friday.

The next day, Aug. 30, at around 5:30 a.m., two suspect vessels were seen leaving the Fort Pierce Inlet, and later in the day authorities learned a third boat was involved and that all three were returning to the Inlet from the Bahamas, authorities said.

It was also learned that the group was working with counter-surveill

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