An unidentified diver was found unconscious on the banks of the Hunter River at Newcastle harbour on Monday morning at approximately 9:30am. Paramedics and members of the public couldn’t revive him when he was located.

In his immediate vicinity were a number of packages of a white powder which Police suspect to be cocaine. His death is being treated as suspicious and linked to the drugs found near his location. It is suspected he was attempted to bring the packages to shore however it is unclear where the packages were being transported from.

There was more than 50 kilograms of the white powder found beside the diver, which if it is identified as being cocaine, is potentially worth an estimated street value of $20 million. A crime scene was established by police as they continue to investigate what occurred and the packages found with the male.

The male is yet to be formally identified at this stage and a post-mortem investigation will be carried out this week. There is still not clear indication of what caused the man to drown.

The Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force are joining the State Police investigation given the large quantity of the suspected drug located with the deceased male diver and the location he was found. 

Police and Border Force divers will be continuing their search of the area today to further provide information about what occurred. The investigation continues into this matter.

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