Police have found 23kg worth of cocaine valued at $8m, on-board a ship at Port Pirie

Police and border officers found kilograms of the highly illegal drug at the regional port on Monday.

Police have discovered a major cocaine haul on a ship at Port Pirie after crew members aboard the vessel raised the alarm on Monday.

Serious and organised crime officers are now investigating alongside border authorities after they were contacted by a vessel’s crew and alerted to 23 kilograms of cocaine worth about $8 million in the regional SA port.

The drugs were found after SA Police and Australian Border Force officers boarded the ship on Monday.

SA Police Serious and Organised Crime Branch officer in charge Detective Superintendent Billy Thompson said it was a “very significant” discovery.

“It is estimated that the street value of drugs would be in excess of $8 million,” Supt Thompson said.

Police seized 23 kgs worth of cocaine docked at Port Pirie on Monday. Picture: SA Police

Police seized 23 kgs worth of cocaine docked at Port Pirie on Monday. Picture: SA Police

“If this amount of illicit drugs had successfully entered the drug market it would have no doubt led to significant harm to our community.”

The suspicious packages are now being investigated to determine where the cocaine came from and how it came to be on board the ship.

Detectives from Serious and Organised Crime Branch, local police, SAPOL Water Operations, Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police are involved in the investigation.

Police said members of the ship’s crew were helping with inquiries, and investigators were expected to remain at Port Pirie throughout Tuesday to complete a full search of the ship.