Sydney — Australian authorities announced the seizure of 80 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a shipping container that arrived from the United States, marking one of the largest narcotics interceptions at the country’s busiest port this year.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) discovered the consignment during routine screening at Sydney’s Port Botany. Officials said an X-ray scan detected anomalies in one container, which was later opened to reveal two sports bags filled with compressed bricks of cocaine wrapped in blue cling film. Each package carried the distinct label “464,” which investigators believe may point to the drug syndicate responsible.
Police estimate the cocaine has a street value of nearly 26 million Australian dollars, or about 17 million US dollars. Authorities said the drugs were most likely destined for local markets, where criminal gangs have been escalating efforts to smuggle high-purity narcotics through legitimate shipping routes.
No arrests have yet been made. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said an ongoing investigation is focused on identifying the network behind the shipment, including possible connections to organized crime groups operating between North and South America and Australian distribution cells.
Law enforcement officials believe the concealment method used may have involved what is known as the “rip-on, rip-off” technique, where traffickers hide drugs in legitimate cargo during transit, often relying on insiders at shipping terminals to retrieve the illicit goods before delivery.
The AFP and ABF stressed that such attempts to infiltrate global supply chains highlight the vulnerabilities of international trade routes. They also warned that seizures of this scale demonstrate the determination of organized crime syndicates to maintain a steady flow of narcotics despite heightened border security and international surveillance efforts.
Authorities have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue. According to Anadolu, the seizure is now at the center of a joint intelligence-led inquiry into transnational criminal operations exploiting the Pacific trade corridor.
