Beachgoers help find nearly 70 pounds of cocaine that washed ashore in Alabama, cops say
Beachgoers were enjoying a late night on the Alabama coast when they stumbled upon bundles of cocaine, officials said.
Nearly 70 pounds of the drug reportedly began washing ashore on Monday in Gulf Shores, a popular vacation spot near the Florida state line.
The discovery left visitors surprised and sent law enforcement officials searching for the origin of the drugs, multiple news outlets reported.
“There’s just unfortunately a lot more questions than answers right now,” Lt. Jason Woodruff of the Gulf Shores Police Department told McClatchy News on Wednesday.
The mystery began when police were called to check out reports of drugs washing onto shore in the West Beach Boulevard area, Woodruff said in a phone interview.
The cocaine reportedly weighed 31 kilos, which is roughly 68 pounds. Police estimated the haul to be worth more than $1 million.
Photos from police show officials found more than a dozen bundles of packaged cocaine.
“We are shocked,” Chris Laughlin told WALA. “This is such a family-oriented place to come. I can’t believe a bunch of cocaine washed up.”
This story was originally published May 19, 2021 at 6:37 AM with the headline "Beachgoers help find nearly 70 pounds of cocaine that washed ashore in Alabama, cops say."
