France: More than two tons of cocaine washed ashore

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Police forces in Normandy in search of drug packages

Photo: LOU BENOIST / AFP

There have been finds of this kind in the past.

However, the amount in the current case is significant.

More than two tons of cocaine have washed up on the coast of northern France in the past few days.

The waterproof packaged drug loads were found on two beaches, the AFP news agency learned on Thursday from informed circles.

The cocaine found has an estimated market value of 150 million euros.

The first batch of drugs was reportedly discovered last Sunday on the beach at Réville in Normandy.

It was more than 800 kilograms of cocaine.

Then on Wednesday, more drugs were found on the nearby beach of Vicq-sur-Mer.

Investigators assume that more drugs may be washed up on the beaches.

According to the information, the police still have no information on the origin of the cocaine.

Drug dealers may have thrown it overboard voluntarily to avoid arrest.

Or the drugs were washed overboard in bad weather, according to another theory.

Such finds were already made in 2019 and 2022

It's not the first time cocaine has been found on French beaches.

At the end of 2019, packages containing a total of 1,600 kilograms of cocaine appeared along the Atlantic coast between Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the south-west of the country and Camaret in the north-west.

At that time, mostly packages containing cocaine with a very high degree of purity of 83 percent were found.

The police called on people they find not to touch them, but to inform the investigators.

In addition, around half a dozen beaches were cordoned off and officials patrolled.

Walkers in the area were searched and nearby parking lots were also placed under special surveillance.

At the end of May 2022, packages containing a total of 21 kilograms of the drug were found on a beach in the municipality of Berck in northern France.

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