AUTHORITIES say they have seized 65 kilos of cocaine from a shipping container in Brisbane, with detector dogs helping sniff out the illicit cargo.
The joint operation by the Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police intercepted a consignment from Panama declared as 20 packages containing 2380 wooden slats.
ABF officers X-rayed the container and noticed anomalies within the flooring, where they uncovered 108 bricks of a white substance wrapped in black plastic.
AFP acting superintendent Shane Scott said the seizure highlighted the key role played by the AFP and ABF in targeting concealed drug shipments.
“This amount of cocaine could have resulted in 324,000 street level deals, which could have done untold harm had it made it into the Australian community," a/Supt Scott said.
ABF dogs helped detect the illicit cargo which police estimated would have a street value of around $21 million.
ABF Superintendent David Henderson said officers had prevented significant harm by detecting the dangerous consignment.
“The seizure is the direct result of intelligence-led targeting and the professionalism and dedication of our ABF officers," Supt Henderson said.
“It demonstrates how our intelligence, technology and partnerships are working to disrupt organised crime networks attempting to exploit our border.”
The Queensland operation was simultaneous with targeted action in Portland last month aimed at criminal infiltration along Victoria's southwest coast.
The latter was a high visibility activity that formed part of a broader operation to prevent organised crime groups.
These include trafficking illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
ABF operation at the port of Portland. Video courtesy of the ABF
ABF Inspector Malcolm Hollis said the Portland operation involved vessel searches, surveillance, border patrols and working with local communities and partners.
“We are looking at organised crime groups' use of trusted insiders to facilitate large scale illicit drug imports from merchant ships operating internationally, as well as using fishing fleets and domestic vessels to recover the illicit drops at sea," Inspector Hollis said.
“To counter this threat, we maintain an active presence in the region, with aerial, land and sea surveillance,” he said.
“We're working very closely with our partner agencies both domestically and internationally through shared intelligence and cooperation as well as with industry, port authorities, and local communities.”
The Victorian operation coincided with the 175th anniversary of Portland Customs House in late October, where authorities acknowledged the vital role of local communities.
“Over the past 175 years, we've had a continual presence in the port of Portland, and we are maximising our impact more than ever through broader outreach," Inspector Hollis said.