Each bag weighed approximately 25kg and had several inscriptions on the outside that police aren’t quite sure of the meaning. Source: Australian Border Force.
The Australian Border Force has managed to intercept 700kg of cocaine however have not yet captured the criminal organisation responsible.
On July 22 border forcer officers were carrying out a routine inspection on shipping containers when they came across the mass pile of drugs that has an equivalent street value of $280 million.
The loot was found on board Maersk Inverness, a Singaporean container ship that had docked in Sydney’s Port Botany on July 21.
Officers located the cocaine in denim bags within a container that stated that it contained wood products. There were 28 bags in total, each weighing 25kgs with Australian Federal Police (AFP) detailing that emblems of ‘5’, ‘365’ and the word ‘Netflix’ were inscribed on the packaging.
According to AFP Detective Inspector Luke Wilson, the container ship had stopped in Central and South America before arriving in Australia.
“We are still investigating where the drugs were loaded and who was planning to collect them in Australia,” he said.
“The interception of this amount of drugs would be a significant blow to a well-resourced syndicate and prevents millions of dollars of drug profit flowing back into the syndicate to fund their lavish lifestyles or next criminal venture.
“The AFP estimates this seizure has saved the community more than $451 million in drug-related harm, including associated crime, healthcare and loss of productivity.”
According to the ABF, people on Australia’s east coast can pay up to $400,000 for a kilogram of cocaine.
Earlier this year, 416kg of cocaine was found in South Australia with the haul the largest ever for the state. Four Filipino foreigners were charged in relation to the drug bust and it’s estimated the street value came in at $166 million.
Police are urging anyone with information on the Sydney drug bust to come forward.
Anyone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction is urged to get help and can seek treatment through the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 and can access counselling services at www.counsellingonline.org.au.
