Cocaine worth $36 million seized from frozen berry shipment from Chile

About $36 million worth of cocaine has been seized after it was allegedly hidden inside a shipping container of frozen berries from Chile. 

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted the refrigerated shipping container from Santiago at Port Botany on Wednesday after identifying “a significant number of” suspicious packages hidden inside.

The container was destined for northwest Sydney.

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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) later seized 110 bricks of compressed white powder, each weighing 1kg, with preliminary testing indicating it was cocaine with an estimated street value of about $36 million.

Investigators are now seeking the public’s help to identify the criminal syndicate allegedly behind the importation.

AFP seized 110 bricks of compressed white powder, each weighing 1kg. Credit: AFP

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Aaron Burgess said law enforcement agencies were acutely aware of the growing trend of organised crime groups using refrigerated shipping containers to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia.

“The community are our eyes and ears, and any information, however big or small, may help us identify those responsible for this failed importation,” he said. 

ABF Acting Superintendent Noleen Shankar said cocaine seizures at Australia’s border had increased by 23 per cent compared with the same time last year.

“No matter the methods criminals use to try and hide illicit goods, the ABF and our law enforcement partners will continue to target the syndicates behind these activities and dismantle their operations,” he said. 

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.