Fifty kilograms (110 pounds) of suspected cocaine, valued at around A$20 million ($14 million), was discovered near a diver's body that washed up on a riverbank in New South Wales state on Tuesday.

On Monday, a man was found unconscious near the Hunter River in Newcastle, around 170 kilometers (106 miles) north of Sydney, according to New South Wales police. Despite the efforts of the paramedics, the unidentified man died on the spot.

Multiple packages containing a white substance believed to be cocaine were discovered nearby.

"We are attempting to determine whether the two instances are related. It's possible, but we're willing to consider all possibilities "Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow of the New South Wales police told reporters.

Critchlow stated that investigators inspected a foreign-flagged vessel anchored near the crime scene on Tuesday and interviewed the crew. Sunday night, two tiny boats were spotted near the ship, prompting authorities to seek the public's assistance in identifying them.

Divers and Australian Border Force officials will resume their search of the surrounding season Tuesday, according to police.