ANKARA

Australian authorities have seized 80 kilograms of cocaine that was found in a shipping container that arrived in Sydney from the US, an official statement said Monday.

The shipping container was examined and seized at Port Botany after x-rays identified some anomalies in it, said the joint statement by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force.

A forensic examination revealed two bags containing multiple packages of a substance that tested positive for cocaine, each wrapped in blue clingfilm with a ‘464’ label.

The seized drugs have an estimated street value of $16.9 million, according to authorities.

No arrests have been made so far.

"Inquiries are now underway to identify the criminal syndicate responsible for the importation," the statement added.

*Writing by Aamir Latif