The AFP has identified a recent trend which has resulted in the seizure of over one tonne of cocaine hidden within refrigerated shipping containers during the past two years.
The AFP and the Australian Border Force (ABF) are aware of criminal syndicates hiding cocaine in refrigerated containers used by legitimate businesses to import goods into Sydney from or via Panama. Syndicates then attempt to break into docks, container facilities or other storage areas to remove the drugs after the containers arrive in Australia.
The AFP and ABF have observed a significant increase in instances of this since April 2023, specifically with cocaine.
Both agencies hold grave concerns this practice will result in harm to the general public or innocent workers at facilities where criminals try and retrieve drugs from these containers.
The AFP and ABF are now actively targeting refrigerated containers coming into Sydney to counter these importations. As part of this, the AFP is interested in information about or from people who have been asked to take delivery of, or store, a refrigerated industrial container.
AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie-Lee Cressy said investigators have identified cocaine is being concealed within the engine compartments of specialist containers sent by legitimate companies shipping goods that need refrigeration, such as berries.
"The AFP is attending Port Botany on a regular basis and has seized multiple separate containers each containing 20 to 40, one-kilogram blocks of cocaine, along with tracking devices," Det-Supt Cressy said.
"We believe the tracking devices are being used by transnational serious organised crime syndicate members to identify and monitor the containers containing the illicit drugs once they arrive in Australia.
"These syndicate members are then waiting until they identify an opportunity to break into docks, storage yards, warehouses or other facilities to access the containers to obtain the drugs.
"This practice is extremely dangerous and is putting people's lives at risk.
"Our message to these criminal syndicates is that we are on to you, and we will be actively targeting refrigerated containers coming into Sydney to stop this precarious behaviour.
"Four men have recently pled guilty to accessing refrigerated containers concealing cocaine and are awaiting sentencing in February, 2025.
"The amount of cocaine seized has an estimated street value of $286 million with the potential to equate to 4.4 million individual street deals, had it reached the community.
"Illicit drug use in Australia bankrolls dangerous and brutal criminals who undermine our national security and our economy, and make our suburbs and roads less safe.
"AFP investigators are following every lead to track the origins of the cocaine and are working with our international partners to identify the organised crime syndicates behind these importations."
ABF Commander Trade Kari Ellis said officers are always examining the consignment as an entire package - both the contents and the container itself.
"When ABF officers are identifying anomalies within a shipment, it is critical to review a container in its entirety, as this could be another sneaky way criminal syndicates attempt to bypass border attention," Commander Ellis said.
"ABF officers assess panels, vents, crevasses and false flooring which all form part of the structural integrity of these refrigerated shipping containers.
"The ABF works closely with commercial partners, licenced depots and logistics companies to not only identify and address security and accessibility risks, but also in our approach to tackling the trusted insider market.
"Criminal syndicates will attempt to exploit any vulnerability in our border controls; infiltration of cargo supply chains is not a problem unique to Australia. Law enforcement agencies across the globe are dedicating significant resources to combat the influence of organised crime in cargo and traveller supply chains.
"The ABF work daily to secure our nation's supply chain integrity, as well as making our Australian border as hostile of an environment as possible for these criminal syndicates - we want to prevent them from taking root in our supply chains.
"Organised crime syndicates are relentless in their efforts to flood our shores with illicit drugs, their sole motivator is profit margins, it's pure and simple. We see it coming from all over the world.
"The ABF and AFP, along with our state, territory and international law enforcement and border agency partners, are all united in our approach to disrupt and dismantle organised criminal syndicates, and stop the insidious harm they bring to our communities."
Anyone with information about either cocaine seizure is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000 or report via crimestoppers.com.au.
