120 Kilograms of Cocaine Found on Australian Beaches

Australia – Australian police on December 27 were scouring beaches after mysterious packages believed to contain more than 120kg of cocaine found on the beach during Christmas period.

"A first batch of 39 barnacle-encrusted, one-kilogram bricks of suspected cocaine was discovered on Dec 22 near Magenta Beach, north of Sydney," the state police said.

Since then, another 85 packages of the same size had been spotted along about 80km of the New South Wales coastline, they added.

Meanwhile, seven more packages were found at Magenta Beach, Pelican Beach, Blacksmith Beach, Avoca Beach, Pentaloon Bay and North Steyne Beach

A blue barrel containing another 39 individually-wrapped one-kilo packets of cocaine was found in waters at Barrenjoey Headland, off Sydney’s Northern Beaches, about 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

And about 5:30 p.m. the same day Newcastle police were called to Newcastle Ocean Baths where another suspicious package, again containing 39 one-kilo bricks of cocaine, was found.

State Crime Command has taken over investigation of the matter, with the 124kg of recovered drugs sent for forensic testing.

“Detectives are working closely with local police and specialist resources such as Polair and Marine Area Command, as well as Australian Border Force and Surf Life Saving NSW, to seize any outstanding packages and determine their origin,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Director of State Crime Command, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein, thanked the public for their assistance in reporting the packages to police.

“We thank those who have heeded the warning to report any suspicious packages to police as we get to the bottom of this matter and we remind people that being in possession of a prohibited drug is a criminal offence,” Detective Chief Superintendent Weinstein said.

“Detectives and specialist police are currently combing beaches and coastlines for any outstanding packages and working behind the scenes to make sure we find and hold accountable those responsible," Weinsten concluded.