More than 100kg of cocaine has been found hidden in boat engines imported into Australia.
Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 35, appeared on Tuesday in Southport Magistrates Court after being accused of importing 140kg of the drug into Queensland from the United States.
A large number of plastic-wrapped blocks were found inside two wooden-crated marine engines in a container that arrived in Brisbane from California on October 28 2024, police said.
Police allege the blocks tested positive to cocaine and were swapped for an "inert substance" before being placed back inside the engines.
The shipment was tracked as it was delivered to a Mount Nathan property on the Gold Coast Hinterland on November 14 before the contents were taken to a nearby Wongawallan site the next day, police said.
Ferszt allegedly visited the Wongawallan property that night and tried to retrieve the plastic wrapped blocks but left empty-handed.
Australian Federal Police executed search warrants at Ferszt's Burleigh Heads home as well as the Mount Nathan and Wongawallan properties three days later.
Police said a forklift allegedly hired by Ferszt to move the crates was found in a shed along with the boat engines at the Wongawallan property, with mobile phones and power tools among the items seized.
Ferszt was charged on Monday with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
He was remanded in custody and his matter adjourned to May 19 after he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
