Norway: Police use Facebook to find hashish owner

Norwegian police have invited the owner of the package to come forward - causing much amusement online

Police in Norway have issued a tongue-in-cheek appeal to try to locate the owner of an apparently lost lump of hashish.

The local police force for the islands of Hitra and Froya, in central Norway, posted a photo of the cling-film-wrapped drugs on their official page, alongside a message reading: "Is anyone missing their hashish?" The substance was found by a member of the public in the town of Fillan, and officers say the package contains about about 90g (3.2oz) of hashish, with a street value of 9,000 kroner ($1,000; £720). "This is quite a lot of money, so whoever lost their hashish can just contact the sheriff's office in Hitra," the post reads.

If the owner is out there they might think twice before responding, though. Cannabis-based drugs such as hashish are illegal in Norway, and anyone found in possession of more than 5g (0.17oz) usually ends up in court.

The post has tickled Norwegians commenting on the force's Facebook page, with more than 10,600 likes so far - the page itself only has about 2,000 followers. "Is it possible to collect it anonymously? Asking for a friend," one person writes. And another user imagines how the post could have continued: "We offer a three-month stay in a private room with shower, three meals a day... The windows are secured from the outside so no one can get in."

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