执法当局成功挫败了一起向澳大利亚走私约154公斤可卡因的企图。毒品被藏在一艘货船的船体内，这艘货船刚刚停靠在墨尔本的阿普尔顿码头。

这是过去两个月内发生的第二起此类事件，表明当局正在努力阻止一种令人担忧的模式。

2023年10月，澳大利亚边境部队使用遥控潜水器（ROV）和其他尖端技术检查了这艘从南美洲抵达的货船。通过ROV的彻底检查，在船体上发现了一个可疑的连接，这促使了进一步的研究。

隐藏的包裹是在维多利亚警察搜救队专业潜水员的协助下被找回的。在对海柜内部进行检查时，发现了四包用塑料包裹的可卡因，这是禁止船上的普通船员进入的。

据估计，发现的可卡因价值6100万美元，重约154公斤。执法部门代表指出，这一数字可能相当于惊人的77,000宗街头交易。

在缴获非法毒品的同时，澳大利亚联邦警察（AFP）特工还发现了一个似乎是追踪装置的东西。可卡因的来源和预定目的地是正在进行的调查的重点。

这起事件发生在2023年8月墨尔本港发生的一起类似事件之后，当时在另一艘船的海箱中发现了大约200公斤可卡因。

法新社助理专员Hilda Sirec向犯罪集团发出了强烈的信息，表示他们的行动方法正在受到密切监控。Sirec强调，最近引渡了目前面临严重指控的知名被告，这证明执法部门在识别和挫败此类企图方面是多么有效。

ABF、AFP和维多利亚警方之间的合作，对于识别和定位参与这些走私活动的跨国犯罪集团仍然至关重要。当局没有排除逮捕更多人的可能性。

助理专员Sirec强调了可卡因对人们和整个社会的影响，强调这种药物极有可能上瘾，并对健康构成重大威胁。

ABF南部海事和执法指挥官Clint Sims报告称，在澳大利亚边境缴获的可卡因数量创下了纪录。机器人观察车（ROV）是用于追踪和阻止毒品进口商的尖端工具之一。西姆斯强调了澳大利亚边境对经济增长和国家安全的重要性。

维多利亚水警督察詹姆斯·道尔顿(James Dalton)也赞同团队合作的理念，他强调，合作识别和阻止犯罪活动是非常重要的。

他向那些企图利用海上渠道从事非法活动的人发出明确信息，并向公众保证，执法机构将致力于查明和防止非法进口毒品。

▲图源：网络，侵权必删

英文原文

Law enforcement authorities have successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle about 154 kg of ***e into Australia. The drugs were hidden inside the hull of the cargo ship that had just pulled into Melbourne’s Appleton Dock.

This is the second such incident in the last two months, indicating an alarming pattern that the authorities are working hard to stop.

In October 2023, the Australian Border Force inspected the cargo ship upon its arrival from South America using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and other cutting-edge technology. A suspicious connection on the ship’s hull was discovered by the ROV’s thorough inspection, which prompted additional research.

The hidden packages were retrieved with the assistance of specialised divers from Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad. Four packages of ***e were found wrapped in plastic during the operation of the inner part of the sea chest, which was off-limits to the ship’s regular crew.

The ***e that was found was estimated to be worth $61 million and weighed roughly 154 kg. Law enforcement representatives have pointed out that this amount might have equalled a startling 77,000 street transactions.

Along with seizing the illegal drugs, Australian Federal Police (AFP) agents also found what appeared to be a tracking device. The origin and intended destination of the ***e are the focus of an ongoing investigation.

This incident comes after a similar one in August 2023 at the Port of Melbourne, where about 200 kg of ***e was taken from the sea chest of another vessel.

Hilda Sirec, Assistant Commissioner of the AFP, sent crime groups a strong message, stating that their methods of operation are being closely monitored. Sirec highlighted the recent extradition of well-known accused offenders currently facing serious charges as evidence of how effective law enforcement is at identifying and thwarting such attempts.

Cooperation between the ABF, AFP, and Victoria Police is still essential to identify and locate the transnational crime groups involved in these smuggling attempts. The authorities have not ruled out additional arrests.

Assistant Commissioner Sirec emphasised the effects of ***e on people and society as a whole, stressing the drug’s high potential for addiction and major health risks.

Clint Sims, ABF Commander Maritime and Enforcement South, reported record numbers of ***e seizures at the border with Australia. Robotic observation vehicles (ROVs) are among the cutting-edge tools used to track down and discourage drug importers. Sims underlined the importance of the Australian border to economic growth and national security.

Inspector James Dalton of the Victoria Water Police echoed the idea of teamwork, stressing how crucial it is to cooperate to identify and discourage criminal activity.

In a clear message to those looking to use maritime channels for illegal activity, he reassured the public that law enforcement agencies are dedicated to identifying and preventing the unlawful importation of drugs.

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