Authorities issue trespassing notice to squatters on Florida’s meth island

 Law enforcement agencies recently inspected an island near the Dunlawton Bridge in Volusia County, Florida, which has been taken over by squatters who have built large structures in the area.

Volusia Sheriff's Office, Port Orange Police Department, South Daytona Police Department and Florida Fish and Wildlife installed signages that said: "TRESPASS NOTICE: You are ordered to vacate the island within 48 hours."

The island, according to the video posted by the sheriff's office, is dotted with various handmade wooden structures, including an elaborate four-story treehouse made of scrap wood, a "welcome center," huts made out of what appears to be old lumber and tree branches and a wooden shed that has a sign offering it for $10 a night. "It's pretty impressive, honestly. The number of structures has exponentially grown over the past few years," one law enforcement official is heard saying in the video.

It is also evident in the footage that the illegal settlers have also attempted to decorate the island, including painting hearts on beams of one structure, hanging old license plates on structures like paintings and installing a trampoline.

"Parts of these islands have become overrun with campsites, trash, wooden structures, towers, even a trampoline. For everyone who enjoys the beauty of this area, this is one step toward bringing it back to nature," the sheriff's office posted to Facebook.

Social media users call the place the "good ole meth island" and "Gilligan's Island" as some allegedly saw people on the island getting high on drugs while passing. They said: "Meth island, I launch my boat at the Dunlawton ramp and pass that island all the time you can see people tweaking on the shore of the island." Another one posted: "Are you going to go back and take them down? I hope so. Thank you."

Kevin Pedri, a South Daytona police lieutenant who participated in last week's operation, said there's been "evidence of drugs that have been done over there." He noted that officers found "needles and paraphernalia," but did not find any specific narcotics.  

Meanwhile, some netizens are debating whether installing trespassing signs is a good move by the law enforcers. According to a number of internet users, the island is a "great spot to visit" while others called for the island to be cleaned up. "There's no sanitation on the island, it's a garbage pit," one commenter wrote, while another said the area feels unsafe at night.

Island structures pose risks during hurricane season

With the onset of the hurricane season, stronger storms could endanger not only those who might be on the island but also those around it.

"All that stuff is going to get thrown all over the Intracoastal and damage other boats, or who knows how far some of the wood can launch and possibly damage other property as well," Pedri said. Daytona Beach News-Journal also reported that the structures pose a risk to the island's mangrove population, which is especially important as a natural defense mechanism against storm surges.

Also, Pedri expressed concern that the trampoline and treehouse could be appealing to kids. "All it does is (draw attention) for young kids to go over there. They go to these islands and start having fun and then you start getting the alcohol in there and they are jumping down on these trampolines. That's when an accident is going to wind up happening," he stressed.

Police have not been able to return to the island immediately due to the weather, but are planning to do so as soon as it is safe. The city's public works department has already begun the process of taking the structures down to "clean the island and put it back to its natural state," Pedri said.