This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On August 8, 2019, a significant amount of cocaine washed up on Bethells Beach in West Auckland, New Zealand. The discovery was made by police who were called to the scene on Wednesday evening.
According to Detective Inspector Colin Parmenter, approximately 19 packages of cocaine were found along the shoreline. Testing confirmed that the packages contained cocaine, with an estimated street value of Sh200.5 million (NZ$3 million).
Local media reported that the packages were contained in netting and had been at sea for some time, as indicated by the presence of shells. Police are urging the public to contact them immediately if they find any more packages.
It's not the first time a large amount of drugs has been found on a New Zealand beach. In 2016, 500 kilograms of methamphetamine was discovered on a beach in the far north of the country, with a street value of nearly Sh33.4 billion (NZ$500 million).
