FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said 15 kilos of cocaine washed up on the beach on Surfview Drive in the Hammock area of Palm Coast Friday night.
The Sheriff’s Office released a photo of the drugs Sunday. The Sheriff’s Office says it responded to a call about an abandoned duffel bag. When deputies arrived they found the bag that was covered in barnacles and seaweed. Authorities say there were 15 individually wrapped packages. The bag also contained a large amount of sand and shells. The Sheriff’s Office says the bag appeared to have been in the ocean for some time.
“I’m thankful that the person who located the bag did the right thing and called us. These are dangerous narcotics and could be deadly in the wrong hands," said Sheriff Rick Staly.
The Sheriff’s Office also provided body camera footage. The 9-minute video shows deputies going through the duffel bag and laying out the packages.
“The male opened up one package because he didn’t know what it was, and then once he saw it was a white powder, that is when he called us. So, that is the package we tested, the one that was already opened, and it didn’t appear that anything was missing from that package," said an officer.
At least one of the packages tested positive for cocaine, and negative for fentanyl.
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Deputies searched the area of the beach where the bag washed ashore, and did not find any other evidence of narcotics.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said it let surrounding law enforcement agencies know about the narcotics so they could check their beaches as well.
If you come across a suspicious package, call law enforcement immediately. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS.