Australian authorities have seized nearly $9 million worth of cocaine concealed inside a refrigerated shipping container after it arrived at Port Botany in New South Wales on 2 December 2025. The haul, weighing 27kg, was discovered during routine screening by the Australian Border Force (ABF).

Officers became suspicious after an x-ray scan revealed irregularities at the rear of the container. A detailed examination led to the discovery of 22 individually wrapped plastic blocks, which later returned a positive result for cocaine during presumptive testing. Packages fitted with tracking devices were also found inside the container.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) took possession of the illicit cargo, estimating the seized drugs to be worth about $9 million — the equivalent of roughly 135,000 street-level deals. AFP investigators have commenced further inquiries into the attempted import.

Authorities said the detection forms part of a wider pattern, noting that since October 2025, about 145kg of cocaine has been uncovered in refrigerated containers arriving in Australia.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Aaron Burgess highlighted the importance of strong cooperation with both national and international partners, stating through an AFP release that such collaboration played a key role in disrupting attempts by transnational criminal networks to bring illicit drugs into the country.

He also pointed out that cocaine remained a highly addictive substance that caused significant harm within the community, adding that criminal syndicates often went to extreme lengths to import it. He said authorities had the capability to disrupt these operations.

ABF Acting Superintendent Matt Hughes said in a statement that officers conduct continuous intelligence-led assessments of sea cargo before it enters Australian waters.

He noted that the national border remained a critical asset and that ABF officers would continue working to make it a hostile environment for those engaged in illegal activity.

He added that information-sharing between agencies offered a clearer understanding of suspicious cargo movements and contributed to significant operational results and harm reduction.

Officials said the latest seizure demonstrated the effectiveness of agency collaboration and reinforced ongoing efforts to prevent illicit drugs from reaching Australian communities.

Reference: AFP