MYSTERIOUS COCAINE PACKAGES WASH UP ON SYDNEY BEACHES
In a bizarre turn of events, Sydney beaches have become the unexpected landing spot for five plastic-wrapped packages suspected to contain cocaine, adding to the ongoing drug saga.
Discovered by vigilant beachgoers at Freshwater and Curl Curl, the parcels, totaling 5kg, were promptly confiscated by law enforcement.
Authorities believe these packages are part of a larger cocaine shipment that has been gradually washing ashore since December, leaving residents puzzled and concerned.
Australia holds the dubious title of being the top consumer of cocaine per capita globally, closely followed by Britain as reported by the OECD.
“While investigations are ongoing, the public is urged to report any suspicious packages to the authorities,” emphasized NSW Police in a statement released on Tuesday.
Over 250kg of cocaine have been recovered along the New South Wales coastline since the initial sighting in the Central Coast region, just days before Christmas.
Subsequently, multiple packages, ranging from small to as heavy as 39kg, have washed up on more than ten beaches spanning a 500km stretch of the coast.
A gripping video captured a lifeguard retrieving a package from the waves at Bondi Beach on New Year’s Day, while a recent discovery was made on Valla Beach in the mid-north coast in March.
The circumstances surrounding how these mysterious bricks ended up in the ocean remain unclear, leaving investigators baffled.
In a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in January, NSW Police speculated that the drugs likely originated in South America and were possibly transported to Australia via a cargo vessel.
“There are instances where items are deliberately thrown into the ocean to be collected by another vessel,” explained State Crime Command director Jason Weinstein.
Analysis of barnacles found on some of the packages suggests that they were submerged in the water for no more than six weeks before being discovered, adding to the intrigue of the unfolding saga.
According to national law enforcement data, Australians consumed a staggering 16.5 tonnes of methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA in the year ending August 2023, marking a significant 17% increase in usage compared to the previous 12-month period. — BBC
