A plastic bag containing over a kilogram of cocaine was discovered on a beach close to where an enigmatic barge capsized and leaked oil off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, officials reported on Monday.
The cocaine, estimated to be worth $75,000, was found washed up at Cove Estate on Tobago, according to a police statement.
Authorities have not connected the drug discovery to the overturned vessel, which is stuck on a reef around 500 feet from Cove Estate.
The capsized vessel, which occurred on February 7 in Caribbean waters, has raised intrigue as it made no distress calls and showed no signs of any crew.
As oil continued to seep into the ocean during the peak tourist season, officials confirmed last week that at least two vessels—the barge and a tugboat—were involved in the incident.
The national security ministry revealed that the barge had been towed from Panama and seemed to be headed for Guyana.
The oil spill has impacted approximately 10 miles of Tobago’s coastline, and cleanup efforts are ongoing. Prime Minister Keith Rowley declared a national emergency last week as teams worked to contain the spill.
The island’s Emergency Management Agency has shared numerous images and videos on social media, depicting the 330-foot-long ship and crews working to clean up the oil spill. Divers identified the name “Gulfstream” on the vessel’s side but remain uncertain about its origin or purpose.
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On Sunday, the agency commended all volunteer groups involved in the cleanup efforts.
“Their dedication is truly inspiring as they continue to contribute tirelessly to the recovery mission,” the agency stated on Facebook.
Drug discoveries in the waters and beaches of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico are not uncommon. In January, nearly $1 million worth of cocaine washed ashore on a beach in Cameron County, Texas. Last summer, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor discovered 70 pounds of cocaine while fishing in the Florida Keys.
In April 2023, packages of cocaine valued at over $100,000 were found on three different beaches in Walton County, Florida, and approximately three months earlier, nearly 150 pounds of packaged cocaine washed up on Big Pine Key, Florida.
