Mystery packages wash up on Bundaberg beaches, possible $4.4m drug link

At least 11 mysterious packages that have washed up on beaches near Bundaberg since early Tuesday morning could be worth more than $4million as police extend their search to cover a 170km stretch of Qld coast. PHOTOS, VIDEO

Police have extended their search of the Queensland coastline to take in about 170km after at least 11 suspicious packages were found washed up on beaches near Bundaberg on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Officers are conducting patrols of the water and shoreline where the packages were found by several members of the public off the shoreline from Winfield to Walker’s Point near Bundaberg, the first at about 6am, on Tuesday, March 11.

A press conference at the Bundaberg Police Station on Wednesday morning was told extensive patrols would be conducted throughout Wednesday to investigate the origin of the “suspicious packages”.

Police comb the beach at Bargara as part of their investigation after several containers of a suspicious substance washed up on Tuesday morning.

Chief Inspector Grant Marcus said four members of the public had found one package each and reported them to police.
Chief inspector Marcus refused to identify which beaches or locations specifically were involved, but said the packages were each 1kg in size and “they look like bricks”.
Several water police crews are in full force along with aircrews, and SES are patrolling the space covering about 170km.

 
With Australia’s largest cocaine bust still fresh in the minds of many Queenslanders, police are investigating whether these packages could be linked though Chief Inspector Marcus said the packages appeared to have “not been in the water too long”.

The mysterious packages found on beaches near Bundaberg. PICTURE: Lexa Smith

If the packages contain cocaine, according to Australian Federal Police, a 1kg brick could be worth up to $400,000, bringing the estimated value of the 11 packages to $4.4 million.
Chief Inspector Marcus would not disclose how many packages had been found as of midday on Wednesday, after police media confirmed Wednesday morning at least 11 had been located.

Members of the public are urged to contact police should further packages be found and to not open them as the substance could be “hazardous”.

Anyone with information that can assist with investigations is urged to contact police.

Investigations are continuing and the packages have been sent off for testing as to whether the they contain illicit substances like cocaine.

Originally published as Mystery packages wash up on Bundaberg beaches, possible $4.4m drug link