AFP hunting for gang behind $10m she-devil cocaine shipment

Australian Border Forces officials found 30 kilos of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated container that arrived from Italy on Thursday.

Almost $10 million worth of cocaine branded with pictures of an eagle and a she-devil arrived at Port Botany this week, with federal police now on the hunt for the criminal gang responsible for its importation.

Australian Border Forces officials found 30 kilos of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated container that arrived from Italy on Thursday, after an X-ray revealed “abnormalities” in the shipment.

A forensic examination revealed 30 packages, branded with pictures of a white eagle or a she-devil, hidden inside the engine compartment of the container.

The packages were branded with different images. Picture: AFP

The cocaine was found in the engine compartment of a refrigerated shipping container.

The white substance tested positive to cocaine, with an estimated street value of $9.75 million.

The drugs were seized by AFP officers, who are now working to identify the criminal syndicate responsible for the importation.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Stuart Millen said the 30kg of cocaine had the potential to be sold as more than 150,000 street deals.

“The organised crime syndicates behind these importations don’t care about the harm they’re causing, the hospital admissions, drug-driving crashes, or violence between drug distributors that puts innocent members of the public at risk,” Supt Millen said.

“They care only about the profits they can make.”

The AFP is interested in information about people who may have been asked to take delivery of, or store, a refrigerated industrial container.

The AFP is calling for the public’s assistance after more than 30kg of cocaine was located in a refrigerated container at Port Botany on October 17.

ABF Superintendent Jared Leighton said the detection demonstrated the capabilities of border force officers in the field to identify unusual or abnormal circumstances.

“Whomever has attempted to import these substances has attempted to conceal them within the structure of the container, something which ABF officers assess and monitor several times a day,” Supt Leighton said.

The seized cocaine. Picture: AFP

“It’s a warning to those who try sneaky tactics to get beyond our border controls. We work closely with our partner agencies with intelligence and officer knowledge to look at all aspects of a potential import – inside and within a consignment.”

Anyone with information about the shipment is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

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