A black plastic bag, containing over a kilogram of cocaine valued at $75,000, has been discovered on a beach near the location where an enigmatic barge overturned and leaked oil off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, as per authorities on Monday.
The cocaine was found “washed ashore” at Cove Estate on Tobago, according to a police statement. Although the authorities have not connected this drug discovery to the capsized vessel, which is currently stuck on a reef around 500 feet from Cove Estate.
There is mystery surrounding the barge, which capsized on February 7 in Caribbean waters, without making any emergency calls and with no apparent crew on board.
As an oil spill spread into the ocean during the peak tourist season, authorities determined 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, with cleanup efforts still in progress. 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, showcasing the 330-foot-long ship and crews working to address the oil spill.
Although divers identified the name “Gulfstream” on the vessel’s side, little is known about its origin or destination. On Sunday, the agency expressed appreciation for all volunteer groups contributing to the cleanup.
“Their hard work is nothing short of inspiring as they tirelessly contribute to the recovery mission,” The organization posted on Facebook.
Drugs being discovered in the waters and beaches of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico is a common occurrence. In January, a beach in Cameron County, Texas, saw the washing ashore of nearly $1 million worth of cocaine. Last summer, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also discovered 70 pounds of cocaine during a fishing trip in the Florida Keys.
In April 2023, packages containing cocaine, valued at over $100,000, were found on three different beaches in Walton County, Florida. Approximately three months prior to that incident, nearly 150 pounds of packaged cocaine surfaced on Big Pine Key, Florida.
In 2019, following Hurricane Dorian’s impact on the Florida coast, bricks of cocaine were uncovered on two beaches.
