The gateway to Miami’s watershed
The turquoise waters and white sands along the inlet at Haulover set an idyllic scene for beachgoers. Fishing boats and private motorboats churn their way in and out of this narrow stretch of water, which connects the ritzy northern stretch of Biscayne Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. But what makes this spot special is neither the beautiful setting nor the commuting boats, but its crucial role in the history of Miami’s drug trade. Haulover Cut was once the gateway for the influx of drugs that permanently changed Miami’s urban landscape.
In the 1970s and 1980s, when the demand for marijuana and especially cocaine skyrocketed in the states, Miami was targeted as the primary entry point for narcotics arriving from South and Central America. The cartels pumped exorbitant amounts of illegal substances into the city by boat, and with the drugs came the exchange of billions of dollars. Soon, Miami became a mecca for people who had affinities for both.
Info
Address Haulover Park, 10800 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33154, +1 305.947.3525, www.miamidade.gov/parks/haulover | Hours Daily sunrise to sunset| Tip Arrive by boat or rent one and go for a tour or fishing with a guide at Captain Jay’s (10800 Collins Ave) at the south end of the park.
The success of the cartels’ operation hinged upon the infrastructure surrounding this single inlet. Upper floors of posh apartment buildings built during the heyday of the cocaine rush provided prime lookout posts to determine when illicit cargo could be brought ashore without attracting attention. Miami officials – both police and Coast Guard – were notoriously corrupt at the time, allowing drug runners relative freedom to carry on their business.
Haulover Cut was the main vein to Miami’s racing, drug-addled heart. The ramifications from the illegal activity were smeared daily across the front page of the Miami Herald. Mall shootings and diners being taken hostage at posh restaurants were regular occurrences during the “Scarface years.” From those atrocities, however, rose Miami’s vibrant, sophisticated, and diverse cityscape. For better or for worse, it’s “the city that cocaine built.”
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