By 1news.co.nz and is republished with permission

Bricks of cocaine covered in barnacles are washing up along the beaches of NSW, and police are urging anyone who finds another to contact them.

Officers were called to Magenta on the state’s Central Coast on Friday after a member of the public found a barnacle-covered item on the beach.

Tests revealed the substance inside was cocaine.

More packages were found in subsequent police searches along the coast between Sydney and Newcastle, with another six packages found.

Several more were located by police searchers at Manly, Avoca and Blacksmiths beaches over the weekend.

Investigators are urging anyone who may have seen similar parcels to contact their local police.

The packages recovered so far have had significant barnacle growth covering the outer plastic wrapping.

People are urged not to open the packages.