Teens Rush Back to Charity Shop After Accidentally Donating Bag Filled With Marijuana and Cash
Southland, New Zealand — A routine donation drop-off turned into an unexpected police investigation after two teenagers accidentally left a knapsack containing marijuana and thousands of dollars in cash at a charity shop, only to return moments later in a panic.
According to New Zealand Police, the incident occurred on February 18 in the Southland region of the South Island. A volunteer sorting through donations noticed a strong odor coming from a backpack left near the shop’s drop-off area. When the volunteer opened the bag, the contents were far from typical household goods: several plastic bags containing 43.2 grams of marijuana and 3,700 New Zealand dollars (about $2,200 USD) in cash.
Recreational cannabis remains illegal in New Zealand, and selling marijuana is a criminal offense. Medical cannabis is permitted only with a doctor’s prescription, making the discovery immediately suspicious.
Police say the teenagers — a boy and a girl — had left the knapsack outside the shop while waiting for their vehicle to be serviced at a nearby workshop. It wasn’t until later that they realized the bag was missing. Witnesses reported that the pair returned to the charity shop visibly distressed, asking staff whether anyone had seen their backpack.
Volunteers contacted police after the teens came back searching for the bag, prompting officers to investigate further. When police searched the teenagers’ vehicle, they found additional items raising concern: an air pistol, more cash, and a police scanner.
Under New Zealand law, individuals under 18 cannot possess an air pistol without a license and adult supervision. While owning a police scanner is legal, using information obtained from police communications to interfere with law enforcement is a criminal offense.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what charges the teenagers may face or whether they have appeared in court. New Zealand’s youth justice laws restrict what information can be publicly released about offenders under 17, and most such cases are handled in Youth Court, where reporting is tightly limited.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not commented on whether the teens’ return to the charity shop will factor into potential charges.
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