Two Greek nationals have been charged with numerous offences after police allegedly found $60 million (US$39 million) worth of cocaine in the walls of a shipping container in Sydney.
Police were called to a Port Botany container logistics company with reports of a break-and-enter about 11 p.m. on Thursday.
A man, 27, was arrested after being spotted around the containers, and officers allege a second man, 19, had fled the area.
The pair travelled from Athens, Greece, to “rip” the drugs from inside an otherwise legitimate shipping container from Italy, acting on behalf of local criminals, police allege.
Australian Border Force were notified, and during searches discovered about 120 kilograms of cocaine, stored in 1 kilogram bricks in the walls of a container.
The street value of the drugs is estimated at $60 million.
The pair, who do not speak English, had been in the country for a short time before their arrest, Acting Superintendent Detective Matthew Kennedy from the Drug and Firearms Squad said on Sunday.
“Their sole purpose, we will be alleging, was to come here to Australia to assist with this rip on, rip off,” he said.
Rip on, rip off schemes target legitimate companies, placing illicit items within shipping containers, and using third parties to retrieve the items at a destination.
“These organised crime syndicates, they’re always trying to distance themselves as much as they can,” Kennedy said.
“They’re always trying to push it off. They’re always compartmentalised.
“[They] move the drugs to a certain location and their job is done.”
Sydney’s ports were constantly manned by security guards and CCTV, and attempting to breach the facility was almost certain to result in arrest, Kennedy said.
“It was probably not the smartest thing for the organised crime group to send to Greek nationals ... into a port where they don’t know the lay of the land.”
The 27-year-old was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with entering enclosed lands, assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and malicious damage.
He appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday where his bail was formally refused. He is due in the same court on June 13.
He could face further charges relating to drug supply and importation, Kennedy said.
Detectives from Strike Force Biles searched three units in the Balmain and Leichhardt areas on Friday, where they allegedly seized crow bars, breaking tools, gloves, bags and other items relevant to the investigation.
During the search of a unit in Leichhardt, police arrested the 19-year-old, who was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with intent to commit an indictable offence, large commercial supply of prohibited drugs, and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border restricted drug.
The 19-year-old was formally refused bail at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He is next due at Downing Centre Local Court on July 20.
