Authorities fear 'narco-tourists' could flock to Normandy beaches

French authorities fear ‘narco-tourists’ could flock to Normandy beaches after ‘more than two tonnes of cocaine washed ashore’

  • Local prosecutor issued a public warning amid rising concern of ‘narco-tourism’
  • Residents have also reported influx of strangers in luxury cars visiting the area

French authorities fear ‘narco-tourists’ could travel to the beaches of Normandy after more than two tonnes of cocaine reportedly washed ashore.

Locals in the coastal town in northern France have reported an influx of strangers in luxury cars visiting the area since the class-A drugs were found on the beach earlier this week. 

Phillipe Astruc, the local prosecutor, issued a public health warning yesterday amid rising concern of ‘narco-tourism’, The Guardian reports.

The cocaine is said to be of around 80 per cent to 90 per cent purity and poses a health risk to members of the public, with Mr Astruc warning it could be ‘fatal’ if consumed.

He said: ‘The act of taking possession of one of these bundles and transporting it is a crime that carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.’

Packages discovered on the beach at Normandy, northern France, earlier this week. It remains unknown how they arrived there

The cocaine is said to be of around 80 per cent to 90 per cent purity and poses a health risk to members of the public

He added: ‘At the present time, we don’t know the purity of this substance.’

A number of packages have been discovered along the coast at Néville-sur-mer, Omonville-la-Rogue and Réville so far – totalling a street value of around £133million.

Mr Astruc recalled the death of a man who consumed cocaine that washed ashore on the western coast of the country in 2019.

Meanwhile, Mayor or Reville Yves Asseline said: ‘The sea brings us many things, but this is obviously very unusual. We’ve seen people arriving in 4x4s, brand new cars or with quad bikes on the beach, sometimes at dawn with head torches.’

Armed officers have been patrolling the area for any further packages, while it remains unclear where the drugs came from.

It is thought the cocaine may have been thrown overboard by traffickers or became loose from a boat in poor weather conditions. 

Dranguet Beach, Reville, where drugs with a street value of around £133million were discovered

It comes after drugs worth £53million – including ‘very pure’ cocaine – mysteriously washed up in packages along the French coast sparking warnings of an ‘immediate health risk’ in November 2019.

More than 1,657lb (760kg) of drug parcels were discovered on beaches including in Le Porge and Capbreton along the Atlantic coast in southwestern France.

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