Australian police 'disrupt' international drug cartel, 7 men arrested

Tens of millions dollars worth of cocaine and $580,000 cash was seized by police in Melbourne after a year-long operation.

Police have found 78 boxes of cocaine on a cargo ship docked in the Port of Melbourne.. (AAP)

An international drug cartel has been disrupted with more than $30 million worth of cocaine and $580,000 cash seized in raids in Melbourne.

Seven men were arrested across the city on Thursday night as police seized 78 boxes of the illegal drug.

Four of the men were Australian, two were Canadian and one was British.

Police say the Spirit of Shanghai, which arrived in Victoria from Panama on Monday, was carrying a container that had three black duffel bags inside it.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner John Beveridge says 92kg of cocaine was found in the bags, describing a long-running investigation that showed criminals are getting smarter.

"They used aerial drones to run counter-surveillance on investigators while conducting their meetings," he told reporters on Friday.

But he said, police were also getting smarter and were able to avoid surveillance.

The men have been remanded in custody to face court.