A 29-year-old man from Adelaide is set to appear in court later this year after being charged in connection with an alleged scheme to import 62 kilograms of cocaine into Australia, hidden within mechanical equipment. The incident emerged when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers examined a shipment at the container facility in Sydney, directed towards an Adelaide business.
During the inspection in February 2025, officials reportedly uncovered 62 packages of powder, each weighing approximately one kilogram, concealed inside the cavity of a wheel-balancing machine. Subsequent testing confirmed the substance was cocaine. Following this discovery, the ABF alerted the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which led to a search warrant being executed at a Magill business on February 24, 2025.
Evidence collected during this operation resulted in the arrest of the man on Monday. He faces serious charges of commercial drug importation and possession. The court date is set for October 1, and, if convicted, the accused could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam from the AFP remarked that the seizure, valued at around $20.1 million, has averted nearly 310,000 potential street deals, which could have inflicted considerable harm on communities and the economy.
According to statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia witnessed over 1,300 cocaine-related hospitalisations between 2021 and 2022—averaging more than three cases per day—highlighting the significant public health impact associated with drug abuse.