AUSTRALIA MAY BE NEW TARGET OF COCAINE LORDS

Law enforcement agencies and intelligence groups fear Australia's
second-largest cocaine haul may be part of a push into Australia by
Colombian drug lords.

The seizure in Adelaide on Thursday follows investigations by Australian
and Colombian authorities.

The cocaine, estimated to be worth $64 million, was found in four plastic
drums in the Adelaide suburb of Prospect. Nearly $300,000 was also seized.

An Adelaide man has been charged with possessing a prohibited import and
has appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Federal authorities fear the drugs are part of a concerted campaign by
Columbian drug cartels to flood Australia with cocaine before next month's
Olympics.

"If the cartels think Australia is an easy target they need to think
again," Justice Minister Amanda Vanstone said.

"If you look at seizures for this year alone, the drug lords have lost ten
of millions of dollars from failed attempts to import drugs."

Senator Vanstone said the seizure would stop about 1.6 million cocaine
deals hitting the streets. "(Law enforcement agencies) are working together
in an unprecedented way ... to tackle the higher end of the drug trade,"
she said.

Customs officials have seized more than 600 kilograms of cocaine in New
South Wales alone this year.

"The seizure was the result of a cooperative investigation between
Commonwealth law enforcement agencies," Senator Vanstone said. "We thank
South Australia police, which provided additional support in the operation.

"This is by far the largest seizure ever of cocaine in Adelaide and the
second largest in Australia."

Senator Vanstone said Federal Police and Customs were investigating how the
cocaine reached Australia.

The bust is the latest in a spate of cocaine seizures this year.

In February, Federal Police seized more than 600 kilograms in two
operations at Sydney Airport and Patowonga Inlet near Broken Bay.

In May, five people were arrested after police seized 61 kilograms in
Sydney. The cocaine was in a shipment of industrial machinery from Central
America.