Adelaide man arrested over $20m cocaine haul

Tereapii Pokoina, 46, of Hyde Park, was arrested more than the massive haul – which was despatched to South Australia from Greece.

He confronted the Adelaide Magistrates Court docket by means of online video hyperlink on Wednesday afternoon.

Pokoina did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until November

Australian Federal Law enforcement feel the eighteen offers of medication have a avenue benefit of $20 million and could be sold for about $five million on the black sector at wholesale selling prices.

The haul weighed about 20kg in full.

An investigation into the cargo consignment was launched on August 31.

Australian Border Power officers in Adelaide eradicated a panel from a piece of just one welder and found an electronic risk-free

Within the risk-free they found 9 rectangular offers which allegedly contained a white powder. Assessments of the substance indicated a presumptive positive end result to cocaine.

The 2nd welder was then dismantled, uncovering a 2nd risk-free, with 9 similar offers saved within.

Law enforcement claimed they would allege Pokoina organised the consignment and arranged for it to be delivered to his previous office without the need of the awareness of the business proprietors.

He also allegedly spoke to a freight firm about when the welders would be obtainable.

Law enforcement raided two interior-metropolis homes on Tuesday. Pokoina was arrested at his residence wherever law enforcement seized electronic equipment and documentation allegedly connected to the consignment.

Pokoina has been charged with importing a industrial quantity of border managed medication and faces a optimum penalty of existence imprisonment.

Law enforcement are investigating who despatched the medication from Greece.

AFP Acting Superintendent Gavin Stone claimed criminal offense syndicates really should be on large inform became authorities were constantly “one step ahead”.

“We will outsmart you. Australian legislation enforcement are far more united than at any time to protect the community by stopping harmful medication from reaching our streets and avoiding criminals profiting from their illegal activities,” he claimed.

“Operations like this ship a sturdy information that no issue how subtle or opportunistic these felony ventures are, or what solutions they use, the AFP and our companions are just one step ahead.”