Massachusetts: $1 Million Worth Of Cocaine Washed Up On Martha’s Vineyard Beach

In late July, 53 pounds worth of packages wrapped in burlap were discovered on the shores of a popular Massachusetts beach. This week it was confirmed that it was actually $1 million dollars worth of uncut cocaine that washed up on the shores in Martha's Vineyard.

"We think that it originated from one of the South American countries, the way it was packaged,” said David DiTullio, resident agent in charge at Cape Cod’s Drug Enforcement Administration office, Boston.com reported.

DiTullio also said that although this type of activity occasionally occurs in Florida and the Caribbean, he has not seen anything quite like this in Massachusetts during his 23-year career. It is believed that these pure cocaine packages originated from a cartel in South America.

Each of the packages retrieved was branded with toucan birds. The Vineyard Gazette has photos of the bundles. It's remarkable how intact they remained. "The package was found by a family at the Chilmark beach on a sunny beach day," the Vineyard Gazette explained.

It was first reported that the suspicious packages were discovered on July 27.  It took some time to properly confirm its content. They were sent to an official federal lab in New York. In total, there were 24 of these cocaine-filled packages. Officials also determined that they believe the packages came in through the waters between Rhode Island and Martha's Vineyard, before being washed up on Lucy Vincent Beach.

"The investigation into the origin and intended destination of the packages is ongoing, and the federal agency implores members of the public that may know about the packages to contact their regional office," the Martha's Vineyard Times stated.

Prior to this washed-up cocaine discovery on Martha's Vineyard, there was a similar, yet unrelated, discovery on Nantucket last month. A retired doctor from Florida was arrested aboard his Yacht for cocaine possession and drugs he had on board.

As much as I love my south shore area of the Northeast, sometimes there is nothing better than a quick pause. We are fortunate in New England that there are so many great options that are a short drive away. It's not hard to embark on that perfect weekend getaway escape.

With summer coming to a close and the hustle and bustle of all the fall activities kicking into overdrive, here I will look at some of the best places for a weekend getaway in New England based upon all of those I have visited.

Many factors can be considered when nailing down that perfect two-day plan. We, of course, are graced with all four seasons of the year, so depending upon when you are traveling, different activities may be available to you. Then again, perhaps you don't want any activities at all.

Food options are important to me. However, I don't make trip plans based around what place has the best restaurants. I tend to lean towards exploring the local area in hopes of tripping across a local gem.

Driving distance is another thing I heavily weigh. Although I don't mind the occasional long road trip, my preference is to maximize my time on a weekend adventure. Therefore, time in the car is ideally under four hours. Cost is always a factor.

Lastly, I must preface this list by stating I am an outdoorsman. A good book or movie can certainly do the trick. I always opt for great ocean waves, a rope swing, or mountain over an extra hour of sleep.

In recent years, I have been to each of the places on this list over various months of the year. They each have their own unique characteristics. Their common bond is that they are all great destinations for a New England weekend getaway.

Cape Cod is an obvious location. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, there is perhaps no place that is more popular in Massachusetts. To me, it's about finding that specific corner of Cape Cod that is right for you. You can camp or find cottages along Cahoon Hallow Road that will enable amazing trips to the beach. Trekking those sand dunes, hitting the three-foot waves (yes, sometimes there are shark warnings), and then getting food at the Beachcomber while listening to the great live music, is my perfect day.

There is never a bad time to visit this charming town. You can ski Cranmore in the winter. Hike, hit the waterfalls, or visit Storyland in the summer. Either way, you will be graced with some amazing local restaurants. In fact, North Conway flies under the radar as one of the best pizza towns in New England. The hotels like Eastern Slope in accommodate any season, and are right in the middle of town where all the bars, restaurants and stores are. This weekend getaway is probably the least "quiet" but has the most amount of options at your fingertips.

The river that runs through Woodstock has a way of speaking to you. It's serene but can also provide a thrill of pushing you down stream. It's calming to provide that fresh water cleanse to rid yourself of all that comes with the lights on the city. Lastly, the various rope swings scattered around the town provide a liberating rush. From the climb up the rocks to the swing, to the plunge, you focus on nothing but the joy of that ride. Ramunto's Brick Oven and Brews is also an essential stop upon each visit.

Lake life just hits differently. Depending upon where you go around Lake Sebago you get the feeling that nowhere else on the planet exists while you there. Frye Island has the magic of no public cars, local watering holes, and the ability to bike incredible dirt roads. There's a history there to learn about and local taps to enjoy. It's common to see jet skiing or pontoon boating anywhere you look within the glistening waters. Furthermore, certain towns offer that one and only general store that has everything you can imagine, from household cleaning supplies to steaks to grill for dinner.