Cocaine washing up on Matagorda County beaches

Several packages of a substance thought to be cocaine have washed up onto Matagorda County beaches in recent days, according to a sheriff鈥檚 office news release on Tuesday.

Law enforcement agencies have seized about 65 kilograms of suspected narcotics since May 16 on beaches in Matagorda County.

Contents of the seized packages have not been tested for narcotics, said Lt. James Orr, who works with the Matagorda County Sheriff鈥檚 Office鈥檚 criminal investigations division.

The seized packages found on the beach were previously held by Matagorda County sheriff鈥檚 office officials. After a meeting Wednesday between Matagorda County sheriff鈥檚 office officials and federal law enforcement officials, all seized suspected narcotics were taken into the possession of Drug Enforcement Administration officials.

Federal agencies are taking the lead on the investigation, Orr said. Those agencies include Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard Investigative Service and DEA.

Matagorda County Sheriff鈥檚 Office officials are asking residents who encounter suspicious packages to contact the sheriff鈥檚 office at 979-245-5526.

Authorities also had not received any information indicating any wildlife had been harmed by the packages, Orr said. Also, there have been no arrests relating to the packages, he said.

Geoff Sloan reports on business and breaking news in the Crossroads region. He received his Bachelor's in international relations with minors in journalism and French from Texas State University. Reach him at gsloan@vicad.com or @GeoffroSloan on Twitter.

Business Reporter

Geoff Sloan reports on business and breaking news in the Crossroads region. He received his Bachelor's in international relations with minors in journalism and French from Texas State University. Reach him at gsloan@vicad.com or @GeoffroSloan on Twitter.