Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Jacob Shteyman

Cocaine haul worth $8m found on board ship docked in SA

Officers found 23kg of suspected cocaine on board a ship docked at Port Pirie in South Australia. (HANDOUT/SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE)

Police have found a significant stash of cocaine on board a vessel docked about 200km north of Adelaide after they were alerted to suspicious packages by the ship's crew.

After receiving the tip-off on Monday, South Australia Police, accompanied by the Australian Border Force, searched the ship docked at Port Pirie and found 23kg of suspected cocaine on board.

Detective Superintendent Billy Thompson said it was a very significant find.

"It is estimated that the street value of drugs would be in excess of $8 million," he said.

"If this amount of illicit drugs had successfully entered the drug market it would have no doubt led to significant harm to our community."

Detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch alongside local police, SAPOL Water Operations, Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police are investigating the source of the cocaine and how it came to be on board the ship.

Members of the ship's crew are assisting police in their inquiries.

Investigators are conducting a full search of the ship and are expected to remain at Port Pirie throughout the day.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.