Cocaine washed up on Sussex beaches over the weekend, police have confirmed.

A number of suspect packages appeared in Hove on Saturday, with Sussex Police seizing the drugs after they were spotted along the coast.

The packages are the latest to wash up in Sussex. Police confirmed that the Class A substance also washed up in two other locations at the end of last week.

Holdalls containing the narcotic also washed up on the coast of West Wittering on Friday and in Selsey on Saturday.

It comes after other finds on beaches in Goring, Middleton, Felpham, and Ferring, with armed police called to the scene of each find to seize the drugs. 

Cocaine has also washed up on the Isle of Wight and in Dorset.

Some of the packages that washed ashore in Sussex were marked with the word “POPI”.

The cocaine packages are thought to have been part of a significant consignment smuggled across the Atlantic by international drug lords.

It is believed that the discoveries could be linked to an incident on October 2, when cocaine was reportedly dumped in the Solent by the smugglers.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said they are investigating the cocaine finds, which would have originated in South America.

Tracey Lake, senior investigating officer for the NCA, said: “A loss of a consignment of this size would represent a significant hit to the criminal networks involved.”

Police have reminded the public of the dangers of illegal drugs and urged them not to touch or attempt to remove them.

Anyone who spots suspect packages along the coast is urged to report them to police immediately by calling 999.