TIER 2
TIER 2 · Brian Heder character bio (Trailer 2), 2022 Leak
Leonida Keys Drug Trade
Boat-based drug smuggling missions between keys. Brian Heder ringleader (per character bio).
The Job
Per the verified 2022 leak, the Leonida Keys runs read as boat-based smuggling jobs ferrying product between the keys, with Brian Heder set up as the ringleader (confirmed in his Trailer 2 character bio). This is a medium-sized smuggling op, not a vault score — the GTA$50k-200k estimate range tracks with a job whose risk lives on open water rather than behind a guarded perimeter. The defining variable is the police response: Coast Guard plus helicopter, both of which dominate the water and the air you can't easily break line-of-sight on. That makes approach choice load-bearing. Inference: stealth rewards a clean run-in/run-out with the upper payout intact, since a quiet hand-off avoids the Coast Guard escalation entirely; loud trades that margin for speed and brute-forcing through a chase; hybrid splits the difference — slip in quiet, fight out if the helicopter tags you. The 15-25 min window and three-role crew (captain, tactician, gunner) suggest a contained, repeatable run rather than a multi-stage setup grind. Read it as a mid-tier earner where boat handling and water awareness matter more than firepower.
The GTA$50k-200k estimate fits a medium smuggling job — the spread reflects approach (a clean stealth run protecting the top end, a messy loud chase shaving it). All figures are pre-release estimates, not confirmed payouts.
- Location
- Leonida Keys
- Type
- smuggling
- Scale
- medium
- Duration
- 15-25 min
- Crew
- 3 roles
- Approaches
- 3
- Payout rate
- GTA$6,250/min
- Trailer
- T2: scattered scenes
Estimated payout, against every other tracked heist
- Tier 1 - confirmed
- Tier 2 - verified leak
- Tier 3 - speculation
Vice City Casino Heist (Speculation)Vault Truck EscapeSinfrontera National Bank HeistVice City Art Gallery HeistVice City Jewel Store HeistArmored Truck Heist (Speculation)Armored Cash Truck (Brinks-Style)Yacht Heist (Leonida Keys)Cartel Drug Lab RaidPort Gellhorn Warehouse HeistLeonida Keys Drug TradeDiner Robbery — Hank's WafflesConvenience Store RobberyUncle Jack's Liquor RobberyGas Station Stick-up (Xero Gas)
| Item | Minimum | Maximum | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice City Casino Heist (Speculation) | 2,000,000 | 4,500,000 | Tier 3 - speculation |
| Vault Truck Escape | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 | Tier 1 - confirmed |
| Sinfrontera National Bank Heist | 800,000 | 1,500,000 | Tier 1 - confirmed |
| Vice City Art Gallery Heist | 600,000 | 1,500,000 | Tier 3 - speculation |
| Vice City Jewel Store Heist | 400,000 | 1,200,000 | Tier 3 - speculation |
| Armored Truck Heist (Speculation) | 100,000 | 500,000 | Tier 3 - speculation |
| Armored Cash Truck (Brinks-Style) | 100,000 | 500,000 | Tier 2 - verified leak |
| Yacht Heist (Leonida Keys) | 75,000 | 300,000 | Tier 2 - verified leak |
| Cartel Drug Lab Raid | 60,000 | 250,000 | Tier 2 - verified leak |
| Port Gellhorn Warehouse Heist | 80,000 | 250,000 | Tier 2 - verified leak |
| Leonida Keys Drug Trade | 50,000 | 200,000 | Tier 2 - verified leak |
| Diner Robbery — Hank's Waffles | 5,000 | 25,000 | Tier 2 - verified leak |
| Convenience Store Robbery | 2,000 | 15,000 | Tier 1 - confirmed |
| Uncle Jack's Liquor Robbery | 1,500 | 8,000 | Tier 1 - confirmed |
| Gas Station Stick-up (Xero Gas) | 1,000 | 6,000 | Tier 1 - confirmed |
Getting out
Variable (Coast Guard + helicopter)
- Police response
- Variable (Coast Guard + helicopter)
- Approaches
- stealth, loud, hybrid
- Crew roles
- captain, tactician, gunner
- Confidence
- TIER 2 — Verified 2022 leak
- Source
- Brian Heder character bio (Trailer 2), 2022 Leak
Operator Tips
- Treat the boat as the mission — a captain who can read the water and shake a helicopter chase matters more here than raw firepower.
- Go stealth if you want the top of the payout range: a quiet hand-off between keys avoids triggering the Coast Guard escalation entirely (inference from the variable police response).
- Run the full three-role crew — captain to drive, tactician to call the route between keys, gunner for when the helicopter tags you.
- Budget for a chase, not a shootout: the threat is Coast Guard boats plus air support on open water, where breaking line-of-sight is hard.
- Keep runs tight — the 15-25 min window points to a repeatable earner, so a clean exit beats lingering for extra product.
FAQ
How much does the Leonida Keys Drug Trade pay?
Estimated GTA$50,000-200,000 per run, based on the verified 2022 leak and its medium smuggling size. That's an estimate, not a confirmed figure — the top end likely needs a clean stealth run; a loud Coast Guard chase trims it.
Can I do the Leonida Keys smuggling solo or stealth?
It supports stealth, loud, and hybrid approaches per the leak. Stealth is the play for a clean run between keys. The record lists a three-role crew (captain, tactician, gunner), so solo isn't confirmed — plan around a crew if it ships as recorded.
Who runs the Leonida Keys drug trade and where is it?
Brian Heder is the ringleader, confirmed in his Trailer 2 character bio. The job is boat-based smuggling between the Leonida Keys, running roughly 15-25 minutes against a variable Coast Guard plus helicopter response.
Calculate your take
Use the Heist Payout Calculator to estimate your share for Leonida Keys Drug Trade based on approach, crew skill, and difficulty.
Related smuggling heists
Heist data sourced from Trailer 1, Trailer 2, and verified 2022 Teapotuberhacker leak. Payouts re-verified after 19 November 2026 release. Independent fan content. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive. Grand Theft Auto, GTA, and related logos are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software.