Australian Federal Police have arrested two men after 139kg of cocaine was discovered hidden inside luxury buses that were imported aboard a car carrier.
The two Adelaide men, aged 22 and 19 are facing charges of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine, contrary to section 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The investigation, codenamed Operation Silkwood, began in January after intelligence officers identified an alleged importation of cocaine concealed within a consignment of 13 luxury buses on board an international cargo ship destined for Adelaide, via Perth.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted a search of the buses on 28 January, 2024, after the ship arrived in Fremantle Harbour.
During the search, ABF officers located a number of packages in four of the buses. A test of the packages returned a positive result for cocaine. The matter was subsequently referred to the Australian Federal Police.
The buses were offloaded on their arrival in Adelaide, with the ABF and South Australia Police providing assistance during the operation.
On 3 February, the men allegedly forced entry into the buses and retrieved the consignment.
The men were subsequently arrested in a hotel in Port Adelaide and charged. They were refused bail and remanded in custody.
They face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
AFP Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam said collaboration with international and domestic partners was critical to combating transnational organised crime.
“Unfortunately, Australia is viewed as a lucrative market for organised crime groups due to the comparatively higher prices for illicit substances – but the risks are high for transitional serious organised crime syndicates, as Australian law enforcement co-operation has never been stronger.
“This seizure of the 139kg of cocaine has stopped a potential 695,000 individual street deals from hitting our streets,” said Adam.
ABF superintendent Andrew Dawson said cocaine shipments were being seized at the nation's borders “at unprecedented levels as Australia confronts a global surge in trafficking”.
