SOURCE: ABCnews
Three men have been arrested in Melbourne after 45 kilograms of cocaine was found hidden in a jukebox imported from Greece.
Police estimate the drugs were worth about $20 million and were found by Australian Border Force officers earlier this month.
The consignment was delivered to an address in Sunshine North, where police arrested the three men on Wednesday.
A 39-year-old Spotswood man, a 26-year-old Reservoir man, and a 66-year-old Greek national faced court yesterday.
The two local men face drug importation charges, and the Greek national has been released pending further enquiries.
Police also raided residential properties in Spotswood and Reservoir, and commercial premises in Toorak and Kingsville and seized luxury vehicles, watches, jewellery, drugs and cash.
Acting Detective Superintendent Andrew Stamper said the arrests followed a four-month investigation into drug importation by a Melbourne-based syndicate.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who bring that harm to our state are held to account, and that these criminal syndicates are strongly and deliberately targeted,” he said.
“Our aim is to ensure we disrupt the organised crime syndicates responsible for these imports, so to charge two people as well as effecting these seizures is extremely satisfying.”
Police said the men arrested this week were “significant syndicate members”.
