This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force
Editor’s note: Video grabs from AFP and ABF are available via Hightail.
Mosaic tiles, crane parts, buses, expensive fabric and ’vegetable spring rolls’. These are just some of the elaborate concealment methods criminals have used to try to smuggle drugs into Australia.
In the 2025 calendar year, Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted varied air, mail and sea cargo consignments of illicit substances and precursors destined for Australian shores and, with the AFP, seized:
- 9.2 tonnes of methamphetamine, which had an estimated street value of $5.5 billion;
- 7.8 tonnes of cocaine, which had an estimated street value of $2.5 billion;
- 6.3 tonnes of 1,4-butanediol, which had an estimated street value of $18.9 million;
- 1.3 tonnes of ketamine, which had an estimated street value of $273 million;
- 260kg of MDMA, which had an estimated street value of $42.6 million; and
- 220kg of heroin, which had an estimated street value of $110 million.
Through extensive collaboration, intelligence gathering and information sharing, Australian authorities continue to identify sneaky concealment methods criminal syndicates use in an attempt to flood, and cause harm to, the Australian community with illicit drugs.
A recent seizure at Port Botany, New South Wales, in December 2025 saw ABF officers locate 22 individually wrapped plastic blocks containing an estimated total weight of 27kg of cocaine. The estimated value of the cocaine is about $9 million – enough for about 135,000 street-level deals.
This follows on from a seizure in October 2025 when about 145kg of cocaine was located by ABF officers in shipping containers in New South Wales.
AFP Commander Adam Rice said the AFP continued to work collectively with its state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners to share intelligence and to disrupt and dismantle organised criminal syndicates threatening Australia.
“The diverse capabilities and skills across the AFP and our law enforcement partners strengthens our collaboration and effectiveness in tackling organised crime groups on and offshore,” Commander Rice said.
“Criminals are driven by their own greed and profit. The harm caused by organised crime syndicates’ involvement in the Australian illicit drug trade is significant and extends beyond individual users to a myriad of violent and exploitative crimes and harm to the community.
“The threat posed by organised crime groups is not one which can be tackled by one agency or country alone. The AFP’s international network and global partnerships are used to great effect to target high harm drug importers and disrupt and deter their efforts to bring harmful substances into our country.
“No matter how creative these criminals attempt to be, our message is clear – we are on to you.”
ABF Commander David Coyles said the ABF was committed to protecting the Australian community from persistent threats at the border.
“Over the past year, the ABF has detected a large volume of illicit drugs imported through our air, mail and sea cargo streams, however, we’re also increasingly seeing criminal entities using drug mules within the international traveller domain to exploit our border,” Commander Coyles said.
“Transnational and serious organised crime groups are working as hard as ever to target the Australian community, using whatever means necessary to grow their profits and gain a greater foothold within this criminal trade.
“However, the ABF continues to pursue this criminal activity, working closely with partner agencies through shared intelligence and cooperation both domestically and internationally, allowing us to prevent illicit imports from reaching our streets.
“As the steward of such a vital national asset, the ABF is unwavering in its commitment to maintain a prosperous and secure border now and into the future.”
Every day, on average, 76 people are admitted to Australian hospitals from methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabinoid, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), MDMA and hallucinogen use.*
