Four men, including two Colombians, have been arrested for allegedly attempting to import 30kg of cocaine into Brisbane.
Mark Dumenil, Hashanth Kulatunge and Columbian brothers Giovani and Wilmar Buitrago Aguilar are accused of trying to import the large amount of cocaine – which has a street value of $9million – by stashing it in the railing of a shipping container.
Police swooped on the group, aged between 45 and 52, when two men tried to collect their cache after it was delivered on Friday.
Four men, including two Colombians, will remain behind bars after their attempt to import 30kg of cocaine (pictured) into Brisbane was unravelled by in a police sting
Australian Border Force officers detected the cocaine ten days earlier but allowed the container to be delivered to trap the alleged importers.
‘The federal police actually substituted the cocaine for an inert substitute,’ police prosecutor Trevor Perry said.
ABF Queensland Commander Terry Price said the sizeable seizure was a significant blow to the illegal drugs trade.
‘Even using unique concealments like this, importers are no match for our highly trained officers and cutting-edge x-ray technology,’ he said.
The four men made a brief appearance at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
They were charged with importing and possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, an offence that carries a maximum of life imprisonment.
They did not apply for bail and are expected in court on February 4.
The men, aged between 45 and 52, are accused of stashing drugs in the structural rail of a shipping container
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