The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is calling for public assistance after seizing 80 kilograms of cocaine, valued at around $26 million, from a shipping container in Sydney.
The container, which arrived at Port Botany in the city’s south last Monday from the United States, was flagged for inspection after x-ray scans revealed anomalies. When investigators examined the cargo more closely, they discovered two bags containing multiple packages wrapped in blue clingfilm, each with numbered labels. Testing confirmed the packages contained cocaine.
The seizure is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt large-scale drug importations into Australia. The AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF) are now working to identify the syndicate responsible, urging anyone with information to come forward.
ABF Superintendent Jared Leighton noted that the way the drugs were stored suggests the use of a smuggling method known as “rip-on/rip-off.” This involves criminal insiders tampering with otherwise legitimate cargo shipments while they are in transit, loading or removing illicit substances at different points along the supply chain.
“The illicit drugs found within this container were not concealed, which could be indicative of a rip-on/rip-off method,” Leighton explained.
Australia remains a lucrative market for international drug traffickers, with cocaine prices among the highest in the world. Authorities estimate that thousands of kilograms of cocaine are trafficked annually, often hidden in shipping containers arriving at major ports.
According to AFP statistics, 740 attempted drug importations were intercepted last year by police and border authorities, including several high-value cocaine shipments. Officials say the latest discovery highlights both the scale of the threat and the need for community cooperation.
Investigators are urging members of the public with any knowledge of criminal activity connected to the shipment to contact Crime Stoppers.
The case underscores Australia’s ongoing battle against international drug syndicates and the increasingly sophisticated methods being used to exploit global trade networks.
