MATAGORDA COUNTY – The Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to beachgoers after a significant amount of packages suspected of containing cocaine started washing up on beaches in the area.
Deputies say 50 kilos of what they believe to be cocaine have washed ashore.
Recommended Videos
The sheriff’s office warned beachgoers that they should not touch any suspicious packages on the beach. If one is spotted, law enforcement should be notified immediately.
On Wednesday, Lt. Philip Hester, who is the Head of the Narcotics Division for the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, set up a meeting at the sheriff’s office with Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard Investigative Service and U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.
He said the Coast Guard plans to continue to check the coastlines for any additional narcotics. Officials said all packages of the suspected narcotics that have washed up on Matagorda County beaches in the last few weeks, were taken by the Drug Enforcement Administration for testing and proper disposal.
Read the department’s Facebook post below, which initially alerted the public to the dangerous situation:
“All bundles were picked up, processed, photographed and placed into evidence lockers at the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office for proper disposal.
Please keep in mind that if you ever find a suspicious package on the beach, do not touch or pick up the packages. Packages could contain substances that are harmful if touched. Packages could be anything from Marijuana to Fentanyl.
Once the package becomes wet, the substance in the package could become liquid form and leak from the package. Once the substance becomes liquid form it is easier to absorb into the skin and could cause a person to become ill or it could possibly be fatal.
Also once a person picks up the package, that person is in possession of the package and could be charged for the criminal charge of Possession.”
The Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office said beachgoers should call them right away if they find a suspicious package. The number is 979-245-5526.