Suspicious package believed to be cocaine found on popular Sydney beach

A mysterious package suspected to contain cocaine has washed up on a popular beach in Sydney’s east.

Police are investigating after a suspicious package, believed to be drugs, washed up on Sydney's Malabar Beach, forcing the council to shut it down. Picture: 7News

A mysterious package suspected to contain cocaine has been washed up on a popular beach in Sydney’s southeast.

NSW Police are examining and forensically testing a 10kg package, which was found on Malabar beach on Saturday, for illegal drugs.

The suspicious package, believed to be drugs, washed up on Sydney's Malabar Beach, forcing the council to shut it down. Picture: 7News

It is understood the package was found by a 27-year-old man with a metal detector who was on the beach early in the morning and called police.

The beach was partly closed during the investigation.

The package was found by a man with a metal detector.

Police investigating the scene on Malabar beach yesterday. Picture: 7News

Witness Jake O’Flynn told Nine News it was a netting bag and it was “pretty obvious” what it was.

“There was definitely a few kilos in it,” he said. “You could blatantly see there was individual packages inside it.”

A police spokeswoman said officers were called to the beach about 9.15am on Saturday and set up a crime scene.

“The matter has been referred to the state crime command,” she said.

The find comes two weeks after another similar suspicious package washed up on Hinchinbrook Island in Queensland.

Packages of white powder suspected of being cocaine found at Hinchinbrook Island. Picture: Queensland Police Services

Beachgoers at Ramsay Bay called police after 10 1kg packages washed up on the shore.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Graham Camp said at the time anyone who finds further packages should not open them but contact police.

“Anyone who was at sea or on the coastline near these locations and saw anything suspicious in the water or other suspicious activity is urged to contact police,” he said.

Originally published as Suspicious package believed to be cocaine found on popular Sydney beach