A bag containing marijuana and money was accidentally handed over to a charity shop in New Zealand.

Two teenagers mistakenly left a backpack containing marijuana and money at a donation point near a charity shop in New Zealand, AP writes. They later returned in a panic to pick him up, police said Monday. A store volunteer smelled a strong odor and decided to check the backpack. Inside, he found plastic bags containing 43.2 grams of marijuana and NZ$3,700 (about US$2,200) in cash.

The incident occurred in late February in the Southland region of the South Island. The police did not specify the exact location of the store, so as not to put employees at risk. According to police, the teenagers left the backpack outside the store while their car was being repaired at a nearby auto repair shop. They later returned for it, very nervous, after which store employees called the police. In the teens’ car, police also found an air pistol – which cannot be possessed by anyone under 18 without a license and unaccompanied by an adult – a police scanner and a small amount of cash.

In New Zealand, owning a police scanner is not illegal in itself, but distributing or using information obtained through it is an offence. The country also prohibits the recreational use and sale of marijuana, but in some cases it can be used for medical purposes with a doctor’s prescription.

Police have not disclosed what charges the teens face or whether they have already been taken to court. In addition, the country has strict restrictions on the publication of information about cases heard in juvenile court, which typically hears cases against suspects under 17 years of age.

By Editor