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Cocaine Wash-Ups on Sylt Beaches Halt After Months of Periodic Discoveries

After no packages washed ashore since mid-May, authorities have reduced coastal patrols with a warning that shifting currents could still deliver new loads.

Overview

  • Over 250 kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of €10 million washed up on Sylt, Föhr, Amrum and Sankt Peter-Ording between December 2024 and mid-May 2025.
  • The streak of drug finds began with a 25-kg haul on Sylt in early January and continued with smaller packages through spring.
  • Customs and police initially ramped up coastal patrols in response to the wash-ups but scaled back operations after the mid-May lull.
  • Investigators suspect the packages originated from failed at-sea transfers or accidental losses from vessels.
  • Beachgoers are instructed to avoid touching suspicious items and to report any findings immediately to customs or police.