Three men, including port workers, were arrested in Sydney following the seizure of 506 kg of cocaine, valued at approximately AUD 164 million. The Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) uncovered an intricate smuggling operation that involved a false wall inside a shipping container arriving from Europe. The arrests were made on August 31, along with the confiscation of AUD 330,000 in cash.
The investigation, which began in April 2025, targeted a criminal syndicate operating within the ports of Sydney. Authorities had intelligence suggesting that this group intended to remove drugs concealed in imported containers during storage. Peter Fogarty, a superintendent with the AFP, stressed the ongoing threat posed by organized crime groups exploiting vulnerabilities in Australia’s border security.
One of the arrested individuals, a 38-year-old forklift driver, was caught accessing a container, while a 25-year-old was apprehended with tools that appeared to have been used to cut the false wall. Both face serious drug-related charges. A third suspect, a 42-year-old forklift driver found with AUD 200,000 in cash, is being charged for handling the proceeds of crime.
The MAST, comprising 41 researchers and analysts, specifically targets “trustworthy insiders” who facilitate such criminal activities through their legitimate roles.
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