Just on 140 kilograms of cocaine have been seized inside a shipment of luxury buses, resulting in the arrest of two Victorian men in South Australia.
The seizure and arrests were made after an Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force joint investigation, based on intelligence that identified that cocaine would be concealed within a shipment of 13 luxury buses. The buses were on board an international cargo ship destined for South Australia, via Western Australia.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched the buses after they arrived in Fremantle. Packages were discovered and drug testing confirmed they contained cocaine. The buses were then allowed to proceed to South Australia, with the men arrested when they tried to retrieve the consignment of cocaine after the buses were offloaded in Adelaide.
If found guilty and convicted, the men face significant consequences, including a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam said in AFP media release, “Unfortunately, Australia is viewed as a lucrative market for organised crime groups due to the comparatively higher prices for illicit substances – but the risks are high for transitional serious organised crime syndicates as Australian law enforcement cooperation has never been stronger.
“This seizure of the 139kg of cocaine has stopped a potential 695,000 individual street deals from hitting our streets and causing significant harm to our communities and economy, with an estimated street value of $45 million.
“Cocaine shipments are being seized at the nation’s borders at unprecedented levels as Australia confronts a global surge in trafficking.”
Hopefully, seizures such as these will reduce drug testing statistics on South Australia and the nation’s roads and workplaces. Most importantly, hopefully it will reduce the harm that drugs like cocaine have on society.
For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
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You wouldn’t think cocaine and luxury buses have much in common, but they were key players in a significant seizure and arrests in South Australia recently.
