Australian Police Confiscate $39M Worth of Cocaine Hidden in Bulker’s Sea Chest

The Australian Border Force has been successful in stopping smugglers from hiding drugs in the sea chest of bulkers arriving at the Port of Melbourne. In a recent incident, an ROV was used to inspect a ship at Appleton Dock, where suspicious packages were found below the vessel’s waterline. Divers from the Victoria Police retrieved four packages of plastic-wrapped cocaine, totaling about 154 kilos and worth approximately US$39 million in Australia. Just a few months earlier, another 200-kilo haul had been seized in a similar manner at the Port of Melbourne.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Hilda Sirec warned divers hired by criminal syndicates to retrieve illicit drugs from ship hulls that they are placing themselves in serious danger. She also emphasized the focus on working abroad to stop transnational organized crime groups, and the potential for overseas criminals to face life in prison if deported or extradited to Australia for trial. Sirec highlighted the impact of illicit drug use on communities, including contributing to the road toll, child neglect, and family violence.

The Australian Border Force has been successful in intercepting drug smuggling attempts in the sea chest of bulkers arriving at the Port of Melbourne. In a recent incident, an ROV was used to inspect a ship at Appleton Dock, where suspicious packages were found below the vessel’s waterline. Divers from the Victoria Police retrieved four packages of plastic-wrapped cocaine, totaling about 154 kilos and worth approximately US$39 million in Australia. Just a few months earlier, another 200-kilo haul had been seized in a similar manner at the Port of Melbourne. AFP Assistant Commissioner Hilda Sirec warned divers hired by criminal syndicates to retrieve illicit drugs from ship hulls that they are placing themselves in serious danger. She also emphasized the focus on working abroad to stop transnational organized crime groups, and the potential for overseas criminals to face life in prison if deported or extradited to Australia for trial. Sirec highlighted the impact of illicit drug use on communities, including contributing to the road toll, child neglect, and family violence.

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