Melbourne man allegedly imported cocaine in gaming machine equipment

A 63-year-old man allegedly imported 1.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden in gaming machine components into Melbourne.

Officers from the Australian Border Force investigated a suspicious shipment sent from Argentina to Melbourne on October 26 containing two gaming machine screens.

Both screens were tested and returned a positive result for cocaine.

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Australian Federal Police investigators arrested a St Kilda man who took possession of the consignment on Tuesday November 10.

Search warrants were executed at two properties in St Kilda, with $13,500 in cash and one kilogram of cannabis among the items seized by investigators.

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The 63-year-old St Kilda man was charged with offences including possessing a controlled drug and possessing the proceeds of crime (under $100,000).

He was released on bail after a court appearance scheduled for today was delayed.

AFP Commander Investigations Southern Command Todd Hunter said organised criminals have not stopped attempting to import harmful drugs into Australia.

"The greed of organised criminals means they will seek to prey on our community, fuelling the demand for these substances, causing drug–related crime and increasing the social costs that inevitably follow," Commander Hunter said.

"This operation shows the excellent collaboration between Commonwealth agencies to stay a step ahead of organised crime."

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ABF Port Operations South Commander, Craig Palmer, said the ABF has sophisticated methodologies and the resources to target imported goods and stop illegal drugs, regardless of how criminals attempt to conceal them.

"Working together, the ABF and the AFP have stopped these life-destroying drugs reaching our community," Commander Palmer said.

"Criminals who attempt to import these types of substances should know, no matter where you hide it or how complex the concealment, the ABF and our partner agencies will find it."