SYDNEY, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Australian authorities have seized more than 250 kg of cocaine found in a shipping container that arrived in Brisbane.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a joint statement on Tuesday that the cocaine was found after authorities on May 27 received information regarding a suspicious container imported by sea.
ABF officers in Brisbane x-rayed the container and identified anomalies inside. A subsequent search located five carry bags containing a white substance, which were placed on top of pallets containing a legal plastic packaging product.
Forensic testing carried out by the AFP found that the bags contained a combined 253 kg of cocaine worth an estimated 82 million Australian dollars (53.5 million U.S. dollars).
ABF Commander Troy Sokoloff said that the seizure should serve as a "powerful warning" to criminal syndicates who believe they can infiltrate Australian borders with illicit drugs.
An investigation into the source of the container and its intended destination is ongoing. ■