TWO men have been charged after 120 kilograms of cocaine was found in a shipping container at a logistics company in Port Botany.

Police will allege the men had travelled from Athens to access the drugs from the container on behalf of local criminal associates.

Officers were called to the “shipping container logistics company” facility in Port Botany at around 2300 on 25 May following reports of a break and enter.

Security guards located a 27-year-old man among the containers and detained him until police arrived and arrested him. Officers were told a second man had fled the scene.

Local police began inquiries before State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearm Squad continued the investigation under Strike Force Biles.

The strike force was set up in May this year to investigate the supply of commercial quantities of illicit drugs using the so-called “rip on, rip off” method, which involves importing drugs using legitimate container consignments.

The Australian Border Force examined the container and found around 120 kilograms of cocaine packaged in bricks stored within the walls of the container.

Authorities estimate the drugs had a “street value” of around $60 million.

The 27-year-old was taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged for entering enclosed lands, assault and malicious damage.

He appeared in Waverley Local Court on 26 May, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear in the same court on Tuesday 13 June 2023.

After further inquiries, strike force detectives searched three units across the Balmain and Leichhardt areas, where they located crow bars, breaking tools, gloves, bags and other items relevant to the investigation. The items were seized for further forensic examination.

During the search of a unit on Parramatta Road in Leichhardt, detectives arrested a 19-year-old man who was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with “intent to commit indictable offence, large commercial supply of prohibited drugs and attempt to possess a commercial quantity of border restricted drug”.

He appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 27 May 2023 where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 20 July 2023.

NSW Police said Drug and Firearm Squad detectives are working closely with Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police as inquiries under Strike Force Biles continue.

NSW Police urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.