Police have charged two men and seized 40kg of cocaine found located inside a vehicle being driven back from the border between Victoria and New South Wales.
A vehicle was intercepted by police on the Hume Highway in Kalkallo at 6.20am on Tuesday, September 16.
A search of the vehicle revealed 40kg of a substance believed to be cocaine with an estimated street value of $14 million, according to police.
The two men, a 19-year-old from Noble Park and a 20-year-old from Hampton Park, were both charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and possessing a large commercial quantity of cocaine.
Both men were remanded overnight to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 17.
Police allege those involved were utilising vehicles to transport illicit substances interstate on behalf of a wider syndicate.
Detective Inspector Jamie Walker of the major drug squad said the 40kg bust is a massive hit to the wider operation.
“There is no doubt that this syndicate will take a massive monetary hit as a result of this outcome, which is crucial for us as we work to target these syndicates in any and every way possible,” he said.
“Through large-scale drug seizures – like the one highlighted this week – we prevent the profits from these drugs from being invested back into the criminal activities of those involved.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
