Three Sydney Port Insiders Charged in $164M Cocaine Bust

Australian authorities charged three Sydney dockworkers in connection with a major cocaine bust involving 506 kilograms of the drug hidden behind a false wall in a shipping container, with a street value exceeding 164 million AUD. The men, aged 25, 38, and 42, were allegedly part of a criminal syndicate exploiting insider access at the Sydney port to smuggle cocaine arriving from Europe concealed within legitimate cargo. Police seized tools such as an angle grinder, crowbar, and portable lights believed to be used to access the concealed drugs. Two of the men, employed as forklift drivers, were denied bail while the third was granted bail under strict conditions; all are facing charges that carry potential life sentences. The multi-agency strike team (MAST) leading the investigation focuses on disrupting transnational serious organized crime groups by targeting trusted insiders who facilitate illicit imports into Australia. Authorities continue to investigate the origins of the shipment and emphasize the ongoing threat posed by organized crime exploiting trusted workers within supply chains.