Yes, cartels have operated in Florida, particularly historically with the rise of cocaine trafficking in the 1970s and 1980s, when groups like the Medellín cartel used Miami as a hub for smuggling into the United States. Florida’s strategic location made it a key trafficking point for cocaine and other drugs. Pablo Escobar and the Medellín cartel trafficked large amounts of cocaine to Miami, eventually superseding previous drug-smuggling operations. 

• Historical Operation: In the 1970s and 1980s, Colombian cartels, most notably the Medellín cartel, established drug trafficking routes through Florida. 
• Hub for Trafficking: Miami served as a major hub for smuggling operations, with cartels using it to move large quantities of cocaine into the US. 
• Strategic Importance: Florida’s location in the Caribbean made it a strategic point for drug smuggling. 
• Notable Figures: The period saw the rise of key traffickers like Pablo Escobar, as well as other major figures connected to cartel operations in the state. 
• Government Action: During this era, the US government took action to combat these operations, including seizing assets like Pablo Escobar’s Miami mansion.