£52 Million Worth Of Cocaine Has Washed Up On French Beaches

More than 760kg (1,657lb) of cocaine has washed up on beaches in southwest France over the past few weeks.

The parcels are said to be worth around £52 million (€60m) have been found on several beaches, including Capbreton and Le Porge.

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The prosecutor's office of the city of Rennes said: "Suspect packages have been found on all beaches... from the Loire-Atlantique department down to the Landes department."

The Landes department is a stretch of coast measuring more than 500km.

Police have now launched an investigation into where the drugs could have come from, with authorities in Rennes saying the cocaine is particularly pure and harmful.

French media have reported that two people were out for a walk on Friday when they found a 3kg (6.6lb) parcel and alerted the police.

Cops have told anyone who comes across any other suspicious packages not to touch them and to call police.

Anyone considering touching or tampering with the packages has been warned there's a risk of a 10-year jail sentence.

Rennes public prosecutor Philippe Astruc believes it is likely the drugs came from South America.

He told press: "It's a very pure product that must not be consumed in this form because there is a very high risk of overdose.

"There is absolutely an immediate health risk."

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This isn't the first time millions of quids' worth of drugs have washed up on a beach.

In August, police in New Zealand announced they were launching an investigation after more than £1.5m worth of cocaine was found on Bethells Beach in Auckland.

In total 19 plastic-wrapped bricks washed up on the shore and, after testing, were found to contain cocaine worth more than NZ$3m (£1.59m).

Authorities believed the packages had been in the water for a 'while', as shells were spotted caught within the netting the drugs were wrapped in.

One unnamed retired cop told New Zealand Herald: "It seems to me like the cocaine was probably part of a bigger lot, and this part has gotten away.

"I would think they would be looking at shipping rather than planes - you'd be looking at boats coming into and out of the area.

"The most likely thing I would think is that a boat has come in and dropped it off and then someone else has gone out and picked it up."

Topics: World News, crime, Drugs

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19