Scattered across various beaches in North Holland since Sunday, over sixty cartons of cigarettes have washed ashore. It is possible that it is smuggled goods. Customs is currently patrolling the coast, as more may wash up.
The first cigarettes were found on Sunday afternoon off the coast of Egmond aan Zee. The lifeguard went to a report of someone possibly drowning, but upon arrival found a large black garbage bag. This contained about six hundred packs of cigarettes. The package weighed about 5 kilos.
Later, cigarettes were also found on the beach between Wijk aan Zee and Camperduin. All cigarettes are of the brand L&M. Most of the cigarettes are wet and therefore unusable. “That is why we are not sure whether it is smuggling,” customs told NH News.
Customs often sees narcotics washing up on the beach. “But illegal cigarettes are not so common. We have not encountered this before.”