Washed up cocaine worth $50m found on NSW beaches

A fisherman has hauled in the most valuable catch of his life, discovering millions of dollars worth of cocaine as bundles of the drug continue to wash up on beaches between Sydney and Newcastle.

A member of the public found a suspicious package containing 39kg of cocaine on Boxing Day on a Newcastle beach. Picture: NSW Police

A fisherman has landed the most valuable catch of his life, discovering millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine as bundles of the drug continue to wash up on beaches between Sydney and Newcastle.

NSW Police say that over the past week members of the public have discovered packages containing 124kg of cocaine, worth almost $50m, as investigators scour the coastline and warn people of the serious penalties that apply if they hold on to the drugs and are caught in possession.

The discoveries began at 8pm on Friday when Tuggerah Lakes police district officers were called to Magenta Beach on the Central Coast after a member of the public found a suspicious parcel that had washed ashore.

One of the washed-up drug parcels. Picture: NSW Police

Police seized the item, which was covered in barnacles and allegedly contained 39 sealed packages, suspected to be about 39kg of cocaine.

On Christmas Eve, members of the public found a further seven individually wrapped packages at Magenta Beach, Pelican Beach, Blacksmith Beach, Avoca Beach, Pentaloon Bay and North Steyne Beach The packages were handed in to local police, and were believed to contain a further 7kg of cocaine.

About 11am Boxing Day, ­Marine Area Command officers were called to Barrenjoey ­Headland off Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where a fisherman had found a blue barrel containing 39 individually wrapped 1kg bricks of cocaine.

About 5.30pm the same day, Newcastle City police district officers were called to Newcastle Ocean Baths after a member of the public found a further 39 individually sealed 1kg cocaine bricks.

“Local police commenced initial inquiries in each case – seizing the packages to undergo further forensic examination – before the matter was referred to State Crime Command,” a police spokesman said. “As inquiries continue, detectives are working closely with local police and specialist resources such as PolAir and Marine Area Command, as well as Australian Border Force and Surf Life Saving NSW, to seize any outstanding packages and determine their origin.”

Director of State Crime Command, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein, thanked the public for their assistance in reporting the packages to police.

“We thank those who have heeded the warning to report any suspicious packages to police as we get to the bottom of this matter and we remind people that being in possession of a prohibited drug is a criminal offence,” Superintendent Weinstein said.

“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.”