BORDER Force officers found 300 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside a steel hydraulic press that arrived in NSW by sea from Mexico on 18 April.

ABF officers examined the large cargo consignment at the Container Examination Facility in Sydney.

According to a statement from police, initial results were inconclusive due to the density of the steel, which raised suspicion and prompted further tests.

Engineering experts drilled into the core of the hydraulic press and found a white substance deep inside the machinery. Testing of the powder returned a positive result for methamphetamine.

Officers pulled the machinery apart and found 79 circle-shaped blocks of methamphetamine, stored within two lead-lined tubs to try to evade detection.

AFP Detective Sergeant Salam Zreika said the funding needed to obtain 300 kilograms of methamphetamine and develop such a complex concealment method could be achieved only by a well-established organised crime syndicate.

“This seizure shows the extremes that drug trafficking syndicates will go to in their bids to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia because of the profits they can make,” Det-Sgt. Zreika said.

“The AFP is working with law enforcement partners locally and overseas to investigate the origins of the drugs, identify the criminals behind the importation and prevent them from sending these harmful drugs to Australia and profiting at the expense of our communities.

“Retrieving the drugs from this concealment in Australia would require significant resources, expertise and space, so someone in the community may have heard something that could help us to identify those involved locally.

ABF Inspector Marc Rea said regardless of whatever creative methods criminals dreamt up to bring harmful drugs across Australia’s border, the experience and expertise of ABF officers would detect these consignments regardless.

“In this case, even thick steel couldn’t dampen the determination of our officers in locating the concealed methamphetamine deep inside the hydraulic press,” Inspector Rea said.

“The Australian border is one of our most critical national assets and criminals should know that we will relentlessly protect it to their utmost detriment.”