The Key West Post

The Fentanyl Crisis in Key West: Fentanyl is a uniquely deadly drug — made with chemicals sourced in China, produced in Mexico and smuggled across what used to be Biden’s open border. It is the ugliest and deadly consequence of illegal immigration.  Even a tiny amount can kill. This deadly drug reached Key West by at least 2023. Since then, the island has seen near-fatal overdoses, high-profile arrests and a months-long, multi-agency crackdown aimed at stopping shipments and

Key West Crime Updates from The Key West Post: Contains brief updates about crimes in Key West and the Florida Keys, as reported by local law enforcement and agencies.

Opinion: The Illegal Immigration Scam-If the people shouting the loudest truly cared about immigrants—or about their neighbors—they would support an orderly, legal immigration system that protects everyone. Immigrants should not be exploited, and U.S. citizens should not be put at risk. What unfolded in Key West exposed something far uglier: a two-faced political performance that preached compassion while quietly profiting from lawlessness. That hypocrisy came into full view

Grand Jury Report Update by City Manager Brian Barroso: At the December 2, 2025 City Commission meeting, City Manager Brian L. Barroso presented a detailed update on the City’s progress in addressing the recommendations issued by the grand jury last spring.

The last time Key West faced the unusual task of appointing an interim city commissioner was in 1995, when District 6 Commissioner Emery Major was suspended and later removed from office. Governor Lawton Chiles issued the suspension on June 30, 1995, after federal investigators uncovered evidence of election fraud and bribery tied to Major’s 1993 campaign. The suspension created a vacancy that required immediate action under city law, much like the current District 5 process

Immigration enforcement in the Florida Keys has taken center stage over the past year, blending local politics with national priorities. In November 2025, federal agents staged roadside stops in Key Largo, detaining individuals from cars and buses while a helicopter circled overhead. These visible operations signaled a renewed emphasis on border security in the Upper Keys.

Photo of the Day: Joseph Bum Farto; In 1975, federal authorities launched Operation Conch, a covert investigation targeting corruption within Key West’s municipal government.

Key West Crime Scandals: Founded in 1828, the Key West Police Dept. began as a one-man marshal system in a town of just 421 residents. The first jail was a ship’s brig docked in the harbor, and early law enforcement focused more on maritime salvage disputes than criminal cases—only three felony convictions were recorded in the first 50 years.  By 1900, the department had grown to 13 sworn officers. Its first line-of-duty death occurred in 1904. The 1970's & 1980's brought two

A man from Virginia found himself in hot water after a wild chase in the Florida Keys that ended in a crash.

Key West Police Secure Mortar Shell Found at Thai Island Restaurant