Cocaine Export Found in Stone Pavers; Four Men Arrested

There are a number of different methods drug traffickers will use to transport their wares to the desired destination. The latest find included the use of stone pavers to contain cocaine for shipment to Australia.

ABC News reported that four men have been charged in this trafficking initiative, their countries of origin include Australia, Mexico and the United States. Customs officers discovered the cocaine, which was 240 kilograms worth, inside stone pavers.

The $84 million worth of drugs were wrapped in brown tape and placed inside two shipping containers bound for Port Melbourne from Mexico. Officials are claiming this seizure interrupts a major South American crime syndicate. The cocaine seizure is said to be the fifth-largest in Australian history.

The drugs were found by customs officers at Port Melbourne about 30 days ago, following an intense police investigation. Another substance was used in place of the cocaine before it was shipped out as planned. Investigators watched as the shipment was delivered to a warehouse and a Mexican native picked out the pavers believed to contain the cocaine.

The man was later arrested, charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of drugs. Two Australian men who had tried to pick up some of the drugs were arrested two days later. The men were charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of the drug.

An American man, known as Teodoro Chavez, is accused of organizing the distribution of the cocaine from his home. He has been charged with attempting to possess and conspiring to supply the cocaine.