Port Botany: $50m of cocaine found in South American coffee bean shipment

Almost $50m worth of cocaine disguised inside a shipment of coffee beans has been uncovered at Sydney’s Port Botany container facility.

More than 120kg of cocaine disguised as coffee beans imported from South and Central America has been uncovered by Australian Border Force officers in a shipment at Sydney‘s Port Botany container facility.

ABF officers noticed on Anzac Day there was something abnormal with the locks on one of the containers and then sent it to be x-rayed at the Sydney Container Examination facility.

The x-rays showed further anomalies which heightened suspicions about the contents of the cargo inside the consignment and a more detailed examination of the coffee beans was conducted.

Inside they found three black duffel bags wrapped in black plastic amongst hessian sacks filled with coffee beans.

They then opened the duffel bags where they discovered packages wrapped in plastic, with tests confirming the substance to be cocaine with a value of close to $50m.

120kg of cocaine has been seized at Port Botany after it was found in a coffee shipment.

The latest detection is part of a large-scale ABF operation actively targeting the importation of illegal drugs particularly inside shipping containers arriving in Australia from South and Central America.

“In this instance, the ABF has been able to prevent approximately 600,000 drug deals. We are committed to protecting Australia’s borders and international ports, and in turn, continuing to keep Australian communities safe,” said Commander Enforcement and Detained Goods East, Justin Bathurst.

The duffel bags of cocaine were hidden amongst sacks of coffee beans.

The bags of cocaine are worth around $50m.

“Our goal is to protect our community by ensuring illegal and dangerous drugs do not make their way to our streets,‘’ he said.

Underworld sources said the wholesale price of cocaine has plummeted to under $200,00 a kilo for importers but is still selling on the streets for anywhere from $300 to $600 a gram.

“There is a flood of it on the streets at the moment,” said a market source.

Members of the public with any information about this importation are urged to contact

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online via Crime Stoppers online or Border Watch.

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Originally published as Port Botany: $50m of cocaine found in South American coffee bean shipment