Authorities are appealing for public help after an $80 million haul of cocaine hidden in the hull of a cargo ship was seized in Melbourne.
More than 200kg of the illicit drug was discovered after an underwater remotely operated vehicle operated by Australian Border Force officers examined the vessel when it was docked in the Port of Melbourne last month.
It was concealed in a hull attachment in the ship's sea chest, which houses pipes used to pump sea water.
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The suspicious packages were recovered by specialist Victoria Police divers.
The ship arrived in Melbourne from Argentina via New Zealand and then continued sailing to Western Australia and South Australia.
Authorities have now turned their investigations to finding the global crime network behind the smuggling attempt and people in Australia working to receive and distribute the drugs.
The Australian Federal Police appealed for public help to find those responsible for the attempted smuggling operation.
"We have prevented 200kgs of cocaine from reaching our streets and in doing so, we have prevented approximately one million street deals and the significant harm to our society that flows as a result," said AFP Commander Richard Chin.
"The focus of our ongoing investigation remains on identifying and locating the transnational serious organised crime groups responsible for this attempted import, and the people working for them in Australia to receive and distribute these drugs."
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"It could be something small from an unusual boat purchase paid in cash, through to suspicious activity at one of our ports.
"Every piece of information reported to law enforcement can help put together the picture to help us find those responsible."
Chin said attachments under the water had been regularly noticed by law enforcement for the previous 20 years.
"This concealment method is not new, and this seizure is another case of law enforcement remaining one step ahead of criminals attempting to bring harmful, illicit drugs into our country and into our community," he said.
Witnesses or anyone with information about suspicious activity around the Port of Maribyrnong in Melbourne on or around August 9, 2023 – or in the Port of Fremantle or Port Adelaide in the week that followed – should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
