Almost $9 million worth of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated shipping container has been seized after Australian authorities intercepted the cargo on its arrival into Port Botany in New South Wales.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers identified the consignment yesterday (2 December, 2025) and conducted an x-ray examination which identified anomalies in the rear of the container.
Further examination by ABF officers located 22 individually wrapped plastic blocks, with an estimated total weight of 27kg. Presumptive testing of the consignment returned a positive reading for cocaine. Packages containing tracking devices were also located in the container.
The estimated value of the cocaine is about $9 million - enough for about 135,000 street-level deals.
The AFP seized the illicit drugs and investigators are conducting further inquiries.
Since October, 2025, about 145kg of cocaine has been found by ABF officers in refrigerated containers.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Aaron Burgess said the AFP's strong collaboration with national and international law enforcement partners played a critical role in disrupting the ability of criminal networks to flood Australia with illicit drugs.
"Cocaine is a highly addictive substance and causes significant harm in the community," Det a/Supt Burgess said.
"Transnational criminal syndicates will go to any extreme in their attempts to import harmful illicit substances into our country. We are here to remind them that we have the skills and ability to disrupt these ventures."
ABF Acting Superintendent Matt Hughes said officers provided around the clock intelligence-driven assessments of sea cargo consignments before they reached Australian shores.
"The Australian border is our most critical national asset, and our officers will continue to ensure it remains a hostile environment for those doing the wrong thing," a/Supt Hughes said.
"Information sharing between partner agencies provides law enforcement a more complete picture of inbound suspicious cargo and for where it is destined.
"This detection is a fantastic example of how agency collaboration and monitoring can result in significant operational outcomes and real-life harm minimisation."
