A man has been charged after a joint investigation by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) into the alleged importation of nearly 70kg of cocaine, concealed in furniture.
On 8 April 2019, a consignment carrying wooden furniture arrived in Sydney from South Africa. The container was taken to the ABF's Sydney Container Examination Facility for x-ray and officers noted anomalies in the shipping crates.
During a subsequent deconstruction of the consignment, 61 packages containing a white powder were located concealed within the base of the crate.
Forensic analysis determined the packages contained a total of 68kg of cocaine, which has an estimated potential street value of $34 million.
Detectives from the NSWPF Organised Crime Squad and ABF investigators, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police established Strike Force Warranbool to investigate the import.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators conducted a controlled delivery to a storage facility at Campbelltown last Tuesday (16 April 2019).
A 45-year-old man, who is a South African National, attended the facility and was arrested after he allegedly accessed the consignment just before 2.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 23 April 2019).
Following the arrest, investigators executed three search warrants in Campbelltown, where they seized items relevant to the investigation.
The man was charged with import commercial quantity of border controlled drug and possess commercial quantity unlawful import: border controlled drug.
He was refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court today (Wednesday 24 April 2019).
Investigations under Strike Force Warranbool continue.
Anyone with information about the importation of illicit drugs is encouraged to report it to the ABF's BorderWatch program by visiting australia.gov.au/borderwatch.
Information about the importation and supply of cocaine in their community can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
