NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand police reported that two teenagers accidentally left a backpack containing marijuana and cash at the donation area outside a charity shop in the Southland region, then returned in a panicked state to retrieve the bag.
According to the police report, volunteers at the shop noticed a strong unusual odor from the backpack before opening it for inspection.
Inside the bag were 43.2 grams of marijuana along with NZ$3,700 in cash (approximately US$2,200). This was one of the recent unexpected drug and cash seizures reported recently.
The incident occurred on February 18, 2026, in the Southland region of New Zealand’s South Island. Police did not disclose the shop’s name to protect the staff at the charity shop.
According to the initial investigation, the two teenagers left the backpack at the donation area while waiting for their car to be repaired at a nearby garage.
After the volunteer discovered the suspicious contents in the bag, police were called to the scene. The two teenagers later returned to the shop in an anxious state looking for the backpack.
During the search of the teenagers’ vehicle, police found an air rifle, a police scanner, and cash.
Under New Zealand law, individuals under 18 are not permitted to possess air rifles without a license and without adult supervision.
Possessing a police scanner is not illegal in New Zealand; however, using or disseminating information obtained from such a device may be subject to criminal prosecution.
Police did not release details about the criminal charges against the two teenagers, nor information about whether they have appeared in court.
Under New Zealand regulations, cases involving individuals under 17 are typically heard in Youth Court, and the law restricts the publication of related information.
