In February 2025, officers from the Australian Border Force at Sydney’s container examination facility inspected a shipment intended for an Adelaide business.

During the inspection, they purportedly uncovered 62 packages, each approximately 1kg in weight, concealed within the interior of a wheel-balancing machine.

He was charged with commercial drug importation and possession offences and is scheduled to face court on October 1.

If found guilty of either, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

“This seizure, with an estimated street value of $20.1 million, has stopped a potential 310,000 individual street deals from hitting our streets and causing significant harm to our communities and economy,” AFP Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam said.

Across Australia in 2021-22, there were more than 1300 cocaine-related hospitalisations – more than three a day on average – according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.