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Police seize multi-million dollar cocaine haul at Sydney airport

Approximately 71 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a hydraulic press in a shipment from Panama. The cocaine was seized by police on Thursday morning. Photo: AAP

Police have seized more than 100 kilograms of cocaine in Sydney in two separate busts this week.

About 37kg of cocaine was found at Sydney's airport stashed inside checked-in bags on Tuesday which four Canadians and an American were allegedly trying to bring into Australia.

The drugs are reportedly linked to an operation run by an international crime syndicate.

The group was caught after arriving at Sydney on a flight from Los Angeles on Tuesday, with 81 packages of drugs allegedly hidden in the lining of eight pieces of luggage, police said.


The accused drug smugglers are in custody and are expected to apply for bail when they front Sydney's Central Local Court on January 6.

AFP airport commander Sharon Cowden said the five passengers could face up to life imprisonment over the alleged attempted import.

A day later about 71kg of cocaine, worth an estimated $25 million, was found inside a hydraulic press sent to Australia from Panama.

Three Sydney men have been charged with drug importation offences, following raids at five properties across the city after the drugs were found by Border Force officers on Wednesday.