Man charged for allegedly smuggling $10m coke haul into Melbourne

A St Kilda man has been charged over allegations he imported a $10m shipment of cocaine to Melbourne from Greece hidden in water pumps.

Australian Border Force has seized 24kg of cocaine smuggled into Melbourne in water pumps. Picture: Australian Federal Police

A St Kilda man has been charged over a $10m shipment of cocaine hidden in water pumps.

The 31-year-old is facing allegations he imported the 24kg of cocaine from Greece, a consignment which was detected by Australian Border Force officers.

It had come in via air cargo recently.

AFP officers and members of the Victoria Police VIPER taskforce made a controlled delivery to an address in Melbourne this week.

They also carried out a search warrant on a St Kilda home where the man was arrested and taken to AFP southern command headquarters in the CBD.

He has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing with identification information with the intention of committing an indictable offence.

The drug offences carry maximum life terms of imprisonment and there is a five-year maximum for the identification information breach.

AFP detective Supt Anthony Hall said the AFP and its partner law enforcement bodies were committed to disrupting the activities of people attempting to import illicit drugs.

Australian Border Force has seized 24kg of cocaine smuggled in water pumps. Picture: Australian Federal Police

“We estimate this seizure has saved the community more than $15m in drug-related harm, including associated crime, healthcare and loss of productivity,” Supt Hall said.

“Part of the AFP strategy to combat transnational serious and organised crime is to target their business model and confiscate any assets the criminal syndicates acquire through profiting from importing illicit drugs into Australia. Those assets represent the abhorrent harm and misery they inflict on the Australian community.”

ABF Supt Tori Rosemond praised the work of her officers in detecting the contraband.

“Our officers are highly trained and capable when it comes to detecting attempts of this nature, and they are committed to protecting the Australian community from the scourge of illegal drugs,” Superintendent Rosemond said.

“Our technical expertise and sophisticated technology means that we will find the drugs, regardless of the method of concealment these criminals use. This operation shows that when we work together with our law enforcement partners, criminals don’t stand a chance and can expect to be brought to justice.”