Three Sydney men will front court on Friday after being arrested over allegedly smuggling 55 kilogram cocaine, hidden in a container that arrived from India.
In a joint operation by the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force, a container was targeted at the Sydney Container Examination facility after arriving from India on 12 June.
Investigators say they detected anomalies after the initial examination and searched a heavy plasma cutting machine that is used to cut through electrically conductive materials, inside the container.
They allegedly found a white powder inside an enclosed metal cavity, which they said tested positive for cocaine.
The AFP said investigators found 110 blocks of cocaine hidden inside four panels. The contraband is said to be worth over $20 million.
On Thursday, three men were arrested after search warrants were conducted at addresses in Arcadia and Toongabbie in north-western Sydney. Investigators seized drug paraphernalia, ammunition, a number of encrypted devices and a radio frequency tracer.
The men have been charged with one count of attempting to process a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.
ABF Regional Investigations Superintendent Garry Low said it was unusual concealment of drugs.
“To the untrained eye this looked like an ordinary piece of machinery. But we obviously have the intelligence capability and the technology to find sophisticated concealments like this, no matter how professional they look,” Superintendent Low said.
AFP Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan, Coordinator Organised Crime said today’s seizure was a significant win for law enforcement and the community.
“This seizure is equivalent to 5,500 street deals which we have successfully stopped reaching the community. The AFP’s key goal is to protect the safety of the community, and today’s seizure shows that we are achieving this,” Superintendent McQuillan said.
The agencies are continuing the investigation and further charges have not been ruled out. The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for life.
The men are scheduled to appear in Sydney Local Court on Friday.
