AUTHORITIES have seized more than 28kg of cocaine concealed within a luxury bus after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers examined a ro-ro vessel berthed at Outer Harbor north-west of the Adelaide CBD.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) was alerted after border force officers conducted a forensic search based on intelligence-led targeting.
Technology such as videoscopes, and detector dogs deployed at the site, 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.
The AFP has commenced inquiries following seizure of the drugs.
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 substances 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.”
The amount of cocaine had an estimated street value of about $9 million, with the potential for about 140,000 street-level deals.
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.”