Fishing Nets Teens $87,000 In Cash

SYDNEY — Two Australian teenagers who found almost 100,000 Australian dollars ($87,000) in cash during a fishing trip have handed it over to police — after spending some time thinking about it. The pair discovered the money earlier this month near the New South Wales town of Nimbin — a center of hippie culture where members of numerous communes annually celebrate a festival to promote cannabis use.

The teenagers contacted police on Friday, after revealing the find to an unidentified adult they know and getting some legal advice, police said in a statement.

Inspector Greg Moore said police were investigating whose money it might be, and whether the stash of cash was linked to crime. "It could be proceeds of ill-gotten gains," Moore told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday.

Police had searched an area at Tuntable Creek where the teenagers found the money, but found no more cash and no clues, he said.

He said the teenagers, who were not identified, might be able to claim the money if no one else comes forward with a legitimate claim.