The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than 28kg of cocaine concealed within a luxury bus in South Australia, after an intercept by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers on a vessel berthed at Outer Harbor.
ABF officers examined a roll-on/roll-off vessel (known as a RORO) on Monday (16 February, 2026) based on intelligence-led targeting.
A forensic search by ABF officers, using technology including videoscopes and the deployment of detector dogs, identified several one-kilogram packages of a white powdered substance hidden behind a television inside a luxury bus.
Presumptive testing returned a positive result for cocaine, with an estimated weight of 28kg. ABF officers referred the detection to the AFP who seized the illicit drugs and commenced their inquiries.
This amount of cocaine, had it reached the Australian community, had an estimated street value of about $9 million, with the potential for about 140,000 street-level deals.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Simon Lalic said the AFP - together with its state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners - was committed to disrupting and dismantling organised criminal syndicates threatening Australia.
"Criminals are driven by their own greed and profit and will attempt any method to import harmful illicit substance into our country," Det a/Supt Lalic said.
"No matter how creative these criminals attempt to be, our message is clear - we are on to you."
ABF Superintendent Jody Griswood said ABF officers were determined to stop the importation of illegal substances into Australia.
"Every detection of illicit drugs at the border reduces drug-related crimes in the Australian community and takes money out of the hands of international criminal syndicates," Superintendent Griswood said.
"I commend the highly skilled officers involved, who were vital to the detection of this large quantity of cocaine, thereby preventing significant community harm."
