'Don't want this to happen again': Cook Islands fisherman recounts finding cocaine washed ashore
A fisherman from a remote island in the Cook Islands says he feared for his life after a routine fishing trip led to the discovery a mysterious package containing cocaine worth millions.
A fisherman from the Cook Islands recounted his harrowing experience of discovering a mysterious package containing cocaine while out fishing on a reef in Mitiaro on July 28. Initially thinking it might be a body or a bomb, he soon realized it was a large package weighing over 26 kilograms. The fisherman, who RNZ Pacific has chosen not to disclose, admitted he was terrified of the possibility that it could be rigged with explosives.
He knew he had to report the find to the police before anything could be done, so he left the package and returned to shore. To his surprise, he could not stop thinking about the package even after he cleaned his catch. The police officers arrived shortly after and helped him retrieve the package, which contained 19 bricks of cocaine.
Police confirmed the presence of cocaine and the weight of the materials. They are now investigating the source of the package and if it's connected to other drug investigations. The fishermen expressed concern that this discovery could indicate that larger drug operations are occurring in the Cook Islands waters, and he urged the public to protect their community from such activities.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
