<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Five men across two continents have been arrested after attempting to import 36kg of cocaine with a value of $11.7 million into Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two men were arrested by Australian Federal Police in Western Sydney after having received mining equipment from Chile that allegedly contained the drugs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Investigators had heard drilling and grinding noises from the property in Western Sydney, which is believed to be a 26-year-old man trying to access the drugs.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/anthony-albanese-donald-trump-meeting-white-house-oval-office/86dff558-6189-4a00-9b65-d40d7f055505" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'I don't like you': Trump blasts Rudd during Albo meeting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The shipment had initially been identified by police in Chile, who had initially deconstructed two pieces of mining equipment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chilean authorities removed the cocaine before reconstructing the equipment and allowung it to be sent to Australia alongside Chilean investigators.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When the shipment was picked up in Australia, Australian Federal Police arrested two men, the 26-year-old and a 37-year-old man.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-chile-cocaine-plot-sydney-police/bd70c334-b5ad-4811-b71e-f2e3291741a3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Angle grinders, cutting discs, safety equipment and sledgehammers were also found, which police will allege were to be used by the men to cut into the mining equipment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Following these arrests, the AFP gave information to Chilean authorities, which allowed the arrest of three men in Chile for their rols in the criminal enterprise and drug importation plot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chilean police also seized mobile phones and mining equipment, and all three men were charged with illicit association and drug trafficking offences.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/anthony-albanese-donald-trump-meeting-live-updates-white-house-oval-office/43c9f3eb-7883-415f-8acd-ea962f1ece51" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Historic handshake seals whopper $8.5 billion deal</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The two men arrested in Western Sydney were subsequently charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The maximum penalty for each offence is life imprisonment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They both appeared before Penrith Local Court on October 15, where they were refused bail. The pair will reappear before the same court on December 19.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AFP Commander Kate Ferry said these arrests speak to the deliberate and active actions the AFP is taking to disrupt criminal threats before they reach our borders.  </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Organised crime groups routinely seek to exploit vulnerabilities at gateways around the world, and the AFP, alongside partners such as the Investigative Police of Chile, are committed to disrupting these groups and bringing them before the courts," Commander Ferry said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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