Crockett and Tubbs are guarding a witness, Joey Bramlette. Joey is testifying against drug dealer Enrique Ruiz. However, after Crockett and Tubbs leave, Switek and Zito lose track of him and he leaves witness protection. This is because he received a threatening letter. Tracking him back to his home in the Everglades, Crockett and Tubbs are almost killed by a pair of redneck criminals who drive them out into the swamp before abandoning them.
Wandering through the woods for a time, Crockett and Tubbs are eventually picked up by a group of armed hunters who take him to a mysterious woman who turns out to be Joey's wife. Joey fled witness protection because Ruiz has kidnapped his daughter and is going to kill her if he testifies (and will kill her even if he doesn't, he believes). Finding out that she's kept in a house with twenty Columbians, they make a plan with the locals to create a distraction at the docks before rescuing her.
- Black-and-Gray Morality: Crockett and Tubbs are annoyed that Joey's friends and family are all pot smugglers. They're much better people than Ruiz, though.
- Boom, Headshot!: Crockett delivers one of these to a drug dealer holding Tammy hostage. It remains one a
Signature Scene of the series.Crockett: Maybe...you won't even...twitch... [fires] - Cool Old Guy: Clem manages to find out the time for a drug shipment and even joins in the showdown against Ruiz's goons, saving Joey's and/or Crockett's life.
- Deep South: The Florida Everglades is portrayed as far more like this versus Miami.
- Ditch the Bodyguards: Switek and Zito are easily ditched by Joey when they're caught up in an argument about a soap opera.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Despite being rural bumpkins, Joey's gang points out that what they're doing as smugglers is no different than what their grandparents did during Prohibition with liquor. Crockett and Tubbs don't really have an argument that their smuggling is harmless compared to Ruiz.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Surprisingly, Crockett and Tubbs get a complete victory here with no casualties on their side and a rescue of Tammy before delivering Joey to the stand.
- Farmer's Daughter: Cassie, the loveliest of Joey's crew, though it turns out she's his wife.
- Half-Witted Hillbilly: Some of Ruiz's goons are portrayed as this. Averted with Joey's people who are at least of average intelligence.
- I Have Your Wife: Joey's daughter, Tammy, is held by Ruiz's men.
- I Own This Town: Ruiz has effectively taken over Joey's hometown with his goons, killing anyone who resists and intimidating the rest.
- Swamps Are Evil: The Everglades prove an insurmountable challenge for Crockett and Tubbs until rescued by Joey's people.
- Witness Protection: Joey is held under guard until he sneaks away because Ruiz kidnaps his daughter.
- Would Hurt a Child: Ruiz's people keep Tammy in a room with no amenities and are planning to kill her after she has outlived her usefulness. One even holds her hostage with a shotgun.
