Police in Sydney seized 110 kg of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated container carrying frozen berries from Chile.
Officers of the Australian Border Force at Port Botany, according to authorities, launched an investigation on June 24 after finding suspicious packages inside a refrigerated container destined for northwestern Sydney.
Investigators said they found 110 bricks of compressed white powder that tested positive for cocaine.
The batch has an estimated street value of around 36 million dollars.
Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the criminal organization allegedly responsible for the importation.
The Border Force reported that cocaine seizures have increased by 23% compared to the same period last year.
Acting Superintendent Noleen Shankar highlighted that this reflects the expertise of officers, who use advanced intelligence and operational capabilities to protect the Australian border.
Acting Detective Superintendent Aaron Burgess, of the Australian Federal Police, noted that they are aware of a trend in which criminal syndicates use refrigerated containers to bring drugs into the country.
“Criminal networks trying to bring harmful drugs into our country have no regard for the devastation these substances cause to individuals, families, and communities,” Burgess stated.
Local authorities did not report the port of origin in Chile of the contaminated container.
