Australian Border Force found a huge stash of plastic-wrapped blocks inside two wooden crates of marine engines that arrived in Brisbane from California in the US in October last year.

The blocks tested positive for cocaine, and the Australian Federal Police took over the incident.

AFP swapped the cocaine-filled blocks with an inert substance before putting them back inside the marine engines.

From there, the container was delivered to a semirural property in Mount Nathan on the Gold Coast on November 14 last year.

Police observed that the contents were removed and transported about 15km to a property in Wongawallan the next day.

Police allege the man visited the Wongawallan property and tried to retrieve the blocks, now filled with the inert substance, as he believed it was the cocaine from the engines.

However, the man left empty-handed.

Two days later, the AFP raided his home in Burleigh Heads as well as the property in Mt Nathan and Wongawallan.

In a shed at the Wongawallan property, police say they found two wooden crates and two large marine engines as well as a forklift that police allege was hired by the man to move the crates.

The man has now been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

He is expected to appear before the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

“Criminal syndicates will hide these hideous illicit drugs in all types of containers to smuggle them into our country and circulate them throughout our communities,” AFP Acting Commander Adrian Telfer said.

“They prioritise profits over people’s lives and have zero regard for the pain and suffering they cause.

“The message to these criminals is a simple one. If you try to import illicit drugs into Australia, the AFP will find and destroy them, and you will be prosecuted.”

ABF Inspector Kylie Black said her officers would not waver in their mission to protect Australians from criminal syndicates that prioritised profits over human life.

“The impact of illicit drugs on society is devastating, driving crime and addiction into our neighbourhoods,” Inspector Black said.

“Our committed officers at the Australian Border Force are well trained and use the most current intelligence and technology to detect and intercept these illicit drugs, no matter where the criminal syndicates try to hide them.

“We work alongside partner agencies such as the AFP nationally, as well as overseas, to ensure that these attempts to do harm to our communities are detected and stopped.”

For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.