Adelaide: $20m drug smuggling plot stopped

An Adelaide man could face a life sentence in jail if convicted after being charged over an alleged plot to smuggle 20kg of cocaine, with a street value of $20 million, into the state from Greece.

Tereapii Pokoina was arrested on Tuesday after Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched two inner-city Adelaide properties and seized documents and electronic devices.

The 46-year-old Hyde Park resident fronted the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday via video-link after being charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

Pokoina made no application for bail and will reappear in court in November after a federal prosecutor asked for a 12 week adjournment.

An investigation was launched after South Australian ABF officers examined an air cargo consignment labelled as “welding” and X-rayed two machines inside the wooden crate, with anomalies in both.

Officers found an electronic safe – after removing a panel from a piece of machinery – with nine rectangular packages containing a white powder that later returned a positive result for cocaine.

AFP officers were called in to dismantle the second welder where another safe with nine similar packages was located inside.

Police will allege Pokoina organised the consignment and arranged for it to be delivered to his former workplace without the business owners’ knowledge.

It is also alleged the accused inquired when the cargo would be available with the freight company.

Investigations into who sent the drugs from Greece continue.

Speaking generally, AFP detective Acting Superintendent Gavin Stone said COVID-19 border restrictions had not stopped crime syndicates from trying to smuggle drugs into the country.

“Australian law enforcement are more united than ever to protect the community by stopping harmful drugs from reaching our streets and preventing criminals profiting from their illegal activities,” he said.

ABF SA Chief Superintendent Brett Liebich said air cargo volumes increased during the pandemic but so too did the organisation’s capacity to screen inbound consignment.

“We have surged officers to the air and sea cargo streams to protect the border,” he said.

“And our officers are alert to the many creative ways criminals attempt to import their illicit cargoes.”

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