Canisters containing a toxic chemical commonly used as rat poison continue to wash up on beaches in the state’s north, police warn.
They are not to be confused with a plastic pipe containing a large quantity of hashish that was found at Kingscliff recently.
Since the discovery of the first container of poison at Tuncurry in January, police have received reports of a number of other canisters washing up on beaches along the state’s north coastline.
The canisters are believed to contain aluminium phosphide, which could be fatal if inhaled or ingested.
They are described as being about 30cm long and made of steel; there are no labels or markings on the canisters, and barnacles are growing on the exterior.
Police continue to urge members of the public to be on the lookout for the canisters and not to handle them if found.
Instead, Fire and Rescue NSW and police should be contacted on Triple Zero (000).
Police have been unable to locate the source of the canisters, but judging by the barnacle growth, it’s believed they have been in the water for some time.
Yesterday local media reported police had also uncovered a medium length of white plastic pipe with screw caps at either end, which had washed up on Kingscliff Beach.
The tube turned out to contain a commercial quantity of hash that police said had a street value of nearly $100,000.
