Cocaine washes up on Australian beaches

Australian police said they were scouring beaches after mysterious packages believed to contain more than 120 kilograms (260 pounds) of cocaine washed up over the Christmas period.

A first batch of 39 barnacle-encrusted, one-kilogram bricks of suspected cocaine was discovered on Friday near Magenta Beach, north of Sydney, police said on Wednesday.

Since then, another 85 packages of the same size had been spotted along about 80 kilometres (50 miles) of the New South Wales coastline, state police said.

Police urged people to report any suspicious packages, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein said in a statement.

"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," said Weinstein, who is director of the state's crime command.

Police warning people not to touch barnacle-encrusted packages (pictured) but call Triple Zero (000) after seven have been washed up on beaches at Magenta, Blacksmiths, Avoca, and Manly since late Friday. Presumptive tests indicate the packages contain cocaine. More details,… pic.twitter.com/TzNUOrlR1s

— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) December 24, 2023