High Tide In Puerto Rico
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday May 12, 1988
SAN JUAN, Thursday: More than 144 kilograms of cocaine with a street value in excess of $US100 million has washed ashore on the east coast of Puerto Rico over the past two days, police said yesterday.
They said 159 packets of the drug, wrapped in aluminum foil and containing slightly less than a kilogram each, had been discovered on a beach about 56 kilometres south-east of San Juan, near the Roosevelt Roads US naval station.
Police said they were hunting for more of the drug, but apparently were not be alone in the search.
Four youths were arrested and charged with drug possession after trying to make away with some of the beached cocaine.
Police told reporters they believe the cocaine was jettisoned by a plane detected by radar on Sunday night as it approached a deserted landing strip on the north coast of the island.
A police helicopter pursued the mystery plane but lost sight of it.
© 1988 Sydney Morning Herald