Australian Border Force make $80m cocaine bust after detecting ‘parasite smuggle’ on boat

A 200kg cocaine cache worth an estimated $80m has been seized by authorities in the latest huge bust linked to a secret smuggling technique.

A 200kg cocaine cache has been seized from the Port of Melbourne in the latest huge bust linked to the technique of parasite smuggling.

A remote-controlled underwater search craft known as a ROV was sent to search the boat after it arrived at the Maribyrnong Terminal from South America last month.

Australian Border Force officers using the ROV saw a suspicious attachment in the boat’s sea hatch, an open area where water is pumped in and out of ballast tanks.

Divers from the Victoria Police search and rescue squad were then called in to retrieve the blue packages tied with rope, estimated to be worth $80 million.

The confiscation is now the subject of a major Australian Federal Police investigation to track the transnational criminals who sent the cocaine and who was to receive and sell it here.

Australian Border Force police with the 200kg cocaine haul.

The cargo ship had travelled from Argentina, via New Zealand, and, after berthing in Melbourne, went to West Australia then South Australia.

Commander Richard Chin of the AFP said the 200kg would have been enough for one million street deals.

He said below-waterline smuggling using attachments had been used for two decades.

“The focus of our ongoing investigation remains on identifying and locating the transnational serious organised crime groups responsible for this attempted import, and the people working for them in Australia to receive and distribute these drugs,” Cdr Chin said.

“This seizure is another case of law enforcement remaining one step ahead of criminals attempting to bring harmful, illicit drugs into our country and into our community.”

Commander Clinton Sims of the ABF maritime and enforcement said it was believed the cocaine had been sent to Melbourne with no wholesale buyer arranged.

The huge haul is believed to have been sent to Melbourne with no wholesale buyer arrangement.

He said the ROV was being used more as organised crime groups continued to move drugs via parasitic hull attachments on commercial ships in increasingly large amounts.

Cdr Sims the ROVs could carry out mass screenings of hulls and spaces below the water line.

He said there were high risks associated with the dive work for police around such vessels and for those assigned by syndicates to retrieve the drugs.

“It’s an extremely dangerous place to operate,” he said.

“This was an outstanding detection by ABF officers. Despite international law enforcement agency operations, organised crime groups continue to import illegal drugs on board commercial vessels destined for Australia.

“Our border is one of our most critical national assets and criminals should know that our efforts will continue to detect, disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime groups who seek to test the integrity of Australia’s border.”

Police divers had to retrieve the haul underneath the vessel.

Insp. James Dalton of Victoria Police search and rescue said the seizure demonstrated the skills of specialist divers and how serious police were about detecting and deterring this activity.

The AFP has urged anyone who witnessed suspicious activity around the Port of Maribyrnong on or around 9 August, 2023 to come forward.

They would also like to hear from anyone who noticed anything in the Fremantle or Port Adelaide ports in the week afterwards.

The Saturday Herald Sun revealed in February that international smugglers were increasingly turning to parasite smuggling.

The technique included the use of sea hatches and attaching contraband to the hulls of vessels, sometimes using magnets, below the waterline.

Anyone with information on last month’s Melbourne shipment can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestoppers.com.au.