Three people charged following alleged 120 kg cocaine import hidden in furniture

This is a joint media release by the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

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Three people have been charged by the Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) for their alleged involvement in a plot to import 120kg of cocaine into Melbourne.

The trio was arrested on Tuesday (20 October, 2026) and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to subsection 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth) and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, contrary to subsections 11.5 and 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth).

An investigation commenced on 9 October, 2026, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers detected anomalies in a consignment from Greece consisting of two cabinets that had been declared as household furniture.

ABF officers x-rayed the consignment and located 120 packages of suspected drugs concealed in the furniture. Presumptive testing identified the substance as cocaine.

The detection was referred to the Victorian JOCTF, which removed the illicit drugs and conducted a controlled delivery of the consignment to an Essendon storage facility.

Police will allege a Pascoe Vale South woman, 49, was the consignee of the shipment.

It will be alleged that she attended the storage facility on Tuesday, where she coordinated the collection and movement of the consignment.

During the controlled delivery, police identified two men – one aged 31 from Rockbank and another aged 40 from Cairnlea.

Police will allege the 31-year-old drove the consignment from the storage facility to an address in Keilor, where it was opened and separated.

Part of the shipment was transferred to a second vehicle, which was driven to an address in Glenroy, where the 40-year-old was arrested.

It is alleged the 31-year-old drove the other vehicle to an address in Rockbank where he was intercepted by police and also arrested.

JOCTF members subsequently arrested the woman at a Pascoe Vale address that day (20 October, 2026).

The charges of importing and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The trio appeared on (Wednesday, 21 October, 2026) in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, where the two men were formally refused bail, and the woman granted conditional bail.

All three will next appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 10 February, 2027.

The Victorian JOCTF consists of the AFP, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan, Organised Crime Division, said these arrests have disrupted significant drug trafficking, preventing dangerous drugs from reaching Victoria’s streets.

“Illicit drugs continue to be a key driver of organised crime in Victoria, generating profits for criminals that enable them to expand their offending in the community,” Det Supt Cowan said.

"We are taking every opportunity to dismantle the organised importation of drugs, regardless of the concealment methods offenders use to get them here.

“Alongside our partner agencies, we are committed to making Victoria as hostile an environment as possible for anyone associated with the trafficking of drugs.”

AFP Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano said organised crime groups would use a range of concealment methods in an attempt to evade law enforcement.

“Criminal syndicates are constantly looking for ways to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia to make a profit, but the AFP and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying and disrupting those attempts,” Det Supt Imbriano said.

“The AFP and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep illegal drugs off the streets and away from Australian communities. Every drug seizure represents harm prevented, criminal profits blocked and safer communities.”

Australian Border Force Acting Superintendent Peter Alderson said ABF officers’ targeting expertise and examination capabilities played a critical role in detecting the concealment.

“ABF officers are highly skilled at identifying anomalies in cargo consignments and uncovering sophisticated concealment methods used by organised crime groups attempting to import illicit drugs,” a/Supt Alderson said.

“Working alongside our law enforcement partners, the ABF is committed to disrupting criminal syndicates and preventing harmful drugs from reaching Australian streets."

Executive Director Collection Operations Andrew Clunas said the charges laid highlight the critical role of the Victorian JOCTF in disrupting organised crime and protecting the community.

“The charges laid demonstrate the importance of the Victorian JOCTF’s ongoing efforts to identify, investigate and disrupt serious and organised criminal activity.

“Illicit drugs generate substantial profits for organised crime groups, enabling them to expand their criminal enterprises and reinvest in other forms of serious offending.”

Anyone with information about suspected criminal activity in their community is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online: https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime.