Two 16-year-olds were arrested in Southland, New Zealand, after accidentally leaving a backpack containing cannabis and thousands of dollars in cash outside a charity shop, police have confirmed.
According to authorities, a volunteer at the charity shop noticed a strong smell coming from the bag, which had been left in the donation area on February 18, 2026. Upon inspection, the backpack was found to contain 43.2 grams of marijuana and Ksh284,000 in cash. The teenagers had reportedly left the bag outside while waiting for a vehicle to be serviced, and returned later in a state of agitation searching for it.
“When the shop worker took the bag inside, they noticed that this particular donation had a distinctive pungent aroma,” a New Zealand Police spokesperson told the New Zealand Herald. “Once it was opened, it quickly emerged why.”
Police also searched the teenagers’ vehicle, uncovering an air pistol, a police scanner, and additional cash. While possession of a police scanner is legal in New Zealand, using information from it to commit a crime is prohibited.
Recreational cannabis use and sale remain illegal in New Zealand. The country rejected a proposal to legalise recreational cannabis in a 2020 referendum.
Details of the teenagers’ charges and court appearances have not been released, in line with New Zealand Youth Court reporting restrictions.
