Two people have been charged following the theft of over 2,000 ecstasy pills from a police station on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of approximately $75,000, and it’s been alleged they were stolen by a 36-year-old tradesman who had access to the police station. A 36-year-old woman has also been charged.

Embarrassed authorities have been left with egg on their face having revealed they’re not entirely sure how long ago the drugs – which had been at the police station since November, 2006 – were stolen. “Our investigation will indicate at this stage that it was a number of months between when the drugs were taken from our facility and when they were discovered to be missing,” said Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart.

What’s more, when police finally cottoned on to the theft it was far too late to recover the entire quantity of drugs. “A small amount of drugs were recovered last night but certainly nowhere near what was taken,’’ Stewart remarked. The accused will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 22.