Skip to main content

That's bananas! The extraordinary way a man tried to 'smuggle a mammoth 550kg haul of cocaine' into Australia

Police allegedly found a quarter of a billion dollars worth of cocaine hidden inside boxes of frozen fruit from Brazil.

The 552kg haul was concealed inside around 2,000 boxes of banana pulp which was intercepted by authorities in Sydney.

Border Force officials removed the drugs from the shipment before sending it on to its destination as part of a covert operation with New South Wales police. 

Police allegedly found a quarter of a million dollars worth of cocaine hidden inside boxes of frozen fruit from Brazil (pictured)

Police allegedly found a quarter of a million dollars worth of cocaine hidden inside boxes of frozen fruit from Brazil

They then watched to see who came to collect the delivery from a storage unit in south-west Sydney.

Police say they witnessed a 68-year-old man visit the facility where he allegedly searched through the boxes looking for the drugs.

He was arrested at a home in Forestville, in Sydney's north on Friday after police executed a search warrant at his home.

Officials scraped off the banana pulp (pictured) and allegedly uncovered a quarter of a billion dollars worth of cocaine

 Officials scraped off the banana pulp and allegedly uncovered a quarter of a billion dollars worth of cocaine

Specialist police conduct forensic testing after executing a search warrant at a man's home

Specialist police conduct forensic testing after executing a search warrant at a man's home

A team of officers and sniffer dogs attended the home and banged on the door before leading him away in handcuffs.

Officers seized mobile phones, a laptop, plastic bags of banana pulp, a box, a case of green stones suspected to be emeralds, and five one-kilogram silver ingots.  

The man is facing life in prison after being charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of drugs and attempting to possesses a commercial quantity of drugs. 

The 552kg haul was concealed inside around 2,000 boxes of banana pulp which was intercepted by authorities in Sydney

The 552kg haul was concealed inside around 2,000 boxes of banana pulp which was intercepted by authorities in Sydney

Officers and sniffer dogs attended the home and banged the door before leading him away in handcuffs

Officers and sniffer dogs attended the home and banged the door before leading him away in handcuffs

AFP Detective Superintendent Geoffrey Turner said COVID-19 border restrictions have not prevented criminal groups from trying to import drugs into Australia.

'Organised crime groups and their associates are taking bigger risks and looking to move more illicit goods in bulk as a result of global lockdowns,' Detective Superintendent Turner said.

'They think that choosing everyday items such as fruit would be innocuous enough to thwart law enforcement detection.' 

'To people who think cocaine may be harmless and part of the party scene – remember this: it is a powerful, addictive stimulant, that makes its way to Australia through a chain of violence and exploitation, and every time you use it only fuels this destruction, and line the pockets of organised crime.'

The man is facing life in prison after being arrested and charged at a home in Sydney's north

The man is facing life in prison after being arrested and charged at a home in Sydney's north 

Officials allegedly uncovered a case of green stones suspected to be emeralds at the man's home

Officials allegedly uncovered a case of green stones suspected to be emeralds at the man's home

ABF Superintendent Regional Investigations NSW, Garry Low said the seizure is a warning anyone who tries to import drugs will be caught.

'My message to anyone thinking of engaging in this type of activity, is to reconsider. Our wide range of detection methodologies can pick up a concealment however well-hidden criminals believe it is – and inside frozen fruit is no exception,' he said.

The man has been remanded in custody after appearing in Sydney Central Local Court on Friday.

He will return court in December. 

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o