The drugs weighed more than 240 lbs.
Credit: Australian Federal Police
NEED TO KNOW
- Australian authorities seized more than $24 million worth of cocaine hidden in a frozen berry shipment from Chile
- Investigators found 110 bricks of the drug at Sydney’s Port Botany
- Officials said drug traffickers are increasingly using refrigerated shipping containers to smuggle cocaine into Australia
More than $24 million worth of cocaine was discovered hidden in a shipment of frozen berries at a port in Australia.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) identified “a significant number of suspicious packages hidden within a refrigerated container destined for northwest Sydney” in Port Botany, the city's main commercial shipping port, on Wednesday, June 24, per a joint press release from the ABF and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The shipment, which was transporting frozen berries, was en route from Chile, authorities said.
Credit: Australian Federal Police
Investigators ultimately found 110 bricks weighing about 242 lbs. of a suspicious white powder inside the shipping container.
Preliminary testing on the powder indicated that it was cocaine, and authorities estimate its street value is more than $24 million, per the release.
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Aaron Burgess said law enforcement is aware of a rising trend “of criminal syndicates using refrigerated containers to import harmful drugs into Australia.”
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He added that those who bring illegal substances into the country “have no regard for the devastation these substances cause to individuals, families and communities,” per the release.
Credit: Australian Federal Police
“No matter the methods criminals use to try and hide illicit goods, the ABF and our law enforcement partners will continue to target the syndicates behind these activities and dismantle their operations,” he continued, adding that cocaine seizures by the ABF have increased by 23% compared with the same time last year.
Authorities concluded their statement by urging the general public to stay alert and to report any suspicious activity.
“Anyone with information which may assist investigators with their inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au,” they added, per the release.
The AFP and ABF did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the incident.
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