AUSTRALIAN Border Force officers seized more than a tonne of cocaine from two shipping containers at Port Botany last week. The Australian Federal Police is now seeking information about the importation.

ABF officers on Wednesday (9 November) found about 550 kilograms of cocaine inside each container, with a combined total of 1.1 tonnes. Police estimate the value of the drugs to be $440 million.

The first container was marked as containing 20 pallets of rat poison and insecticide. It was sent from Basel, Switzerland to a business in Macquarie Park, NSW via Port of Balboa, Panama.

The ABF said its officers removed 11 packages wrapped in plastic from the front row of pallets in the first container.

The packages contained duffle bags filled with blocks of a powdered substance that tested positive as cocaine. Each bag weighed 50 kilograms.

Later that day, the ABF intercepted a second container declared as containing plastic articles sent from Texas to Norwest in NSW.

Like the first container, it contained 11 packages containing duffle bags, each weighing 50 kilograms and filled with blocks of what is believed to be cocaine.

Elke West, ABF Acting Commander trade and travels operations east, said this year alone, authorities had seen attempts to conceal drugs inside everything from cars to tiles.

“Despite the method of concealment criminals try to use, ABF officers and our valued law enforcement partners continue to remain one step ahead, A/g Commander West said.

“What we see here is another significant seizure, which goes to show that if you attempt this type of audacious criminal behaviour, you will be caught out.”

AFP detective Acting Superintendent Luke Wilson said the cocaine would have harmed the Australian community if it had reached the streets.

“Unfortunately Australians are willing to pay sky high prices for drugs such as cocaine and organised criminals around the world are only too willing to feed this appetite,” he said.

“The AFP is committed to working with our partners to ensure these drugs do not enter the country and that anyone attempting to profit from ventures such as this will face justice.”

The ABF and AFP are asking anyone with information about the shipment to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.