Dock workers in Sydney have been caught trying to extract half a tonne of cocaine hidden behind the false wall of a shipping container.
Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement agencies busted three men working at Sydney ports on Sunday, accusing them of importing 506kg of cocaine in a shipping container that had unloaded its legitimate cargo.
Strike Force Paiporta was established in April, with investigators tipped off to an alleged criminal syndicate of trusted insiders planning to take the hidden drug shipment from the seemingly empty container.
They tracked a 38-year-old forklift driver moving several containers to get to the abandoned container, which originated from Europe, and was then returned to a storage area of the Sydney sea freight facility.
Shortly after, a 25-year-old carrying a bag went into the same spot, where police found the tools used to cut into the false wall at the back of the container including a crowbar, angle grinder, earmuffs and lights.
A total of 506 individual blocks of white powder were found in a cavity covered in metal sheeting.
Both were arrested on drug importation charges, for which they could face life behind bars.
Investigators then searched the forklift driver's home and caught another 42-year-old as he was leaving the property, allegedly carrying AU$200,000 (NZ$221,943) in cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
He also worked as a forklift driver.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty described the alleged syndicate as disciplined.
"Transnational serious organised crime groups routinely seek to exploit vulnerabilities at Australia's gateways to the world," he said today.
He warned "the false promise of riches from drug importations" were not worth the risk of life in jail.
The alleged haul had an estimated street value of nearly AU$165 million (NZ$183 million) and could have been sold in more than 2.5 million small street deals.
Police say they later found a further AU$130,000 (NZ$144,258) at the home of the 25-year-old man, which is also believed to be connected from the proceeds of crime.
All three men appeared before court with the young man and the forklift driver refused bail. They were expected to appear at local court on October 29.
The 42-year-old was granted bail with strict conditions and was due to appear on the same date.
Inquiries remained ongoing into the source of the alleged drug shipment and others involved.
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