Two teenagers were arrested after accidentally leaving a backpack containing cannabis and cash at a charity shop in New Zealand. According to multiple reports, volunteers noticed a strong smell coming from the bag left outside the shop's donation area on February 18.
Key Takeaways
Two teenagers were arrested after accidentally leaving a backpack containing cannabis and cash at a New Zealand charity shop. Police found additional items in their vehicle during a subsequent search.
- Two 16-year-olds left a backpack with drugs and cash at a charity shop
- Volunteers discovered the contents due to a strong smell
- Police found an air pistol, scanner, and more cash in the teens' car
- Recreational cannabis use is illegal in New Zealand
The backpack contained several plastic bags of marijuana weighing 43.2 grams and NZ$3,700 ($2,200) in cash. The teens had left the bag while waiting for their vehicle to be serviced nearby and returned in a state of agitation to retrieve it.
Police arrested two 16-year-olds, a male and a female, after searching their vehicle. They found an air pistol—which is illegal for those under 18 without a license and adult supervision—a police scanner, and additional cash. While possessing a police scanner is not illegal in New Zealand, distributing or acting on the information heard from it is considered a crime.
Recreational cannabis use and selling the drug are illegal in New Zealand, though some medical use is permitted with a doctor’s prescription. In 2020, voters narrowly rejected a measure to legalize recreational cannabis in a referendum.
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