An air cargo consignment labelled as 'roasted coffee' bound for the Wollongong area was examined at Bogota Airport in Columbia last month as part of a joint investigation between Australian Federal Police and the Colombian National Police to combat transnational serious organised crime through officers based in Bogota.

Police allege the cardboard box with 67 bags of coffee was found to contain packets of a powdered substance inside the coffee bags.

The substance returned a positive result for cocaine, weighed a total of approximately 35.6 kilograms and was seized by Colombian authorities.

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Investigations revealed Port Kembla man Jesus Edelberto Diaz Hernandez was allegedly involved in importing the drugs.

AFP officers executed a search warrant at his house on Wednesday.

Police allegedly found a clandestine laboratory and 1.84 kilograms of cocaine during the search and arrested Hernandez.

He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine between May 4 and July 2; trafficking in a marketable quantity of cocaine, and dealing with suspected proceeds of an indictable crime less than $100,000.

Hernandez faces life imprisonment for importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

He appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday and did not apply for bail. Police will now prepare a brief of evidence for Hernandez's defence lawyers.

Hernandez's wife attended the brief court appearance to support her husband.

He will remain in custody until his next appearance in November.

The AFP has not ruled out the possibility of further arrests as the investigation into the attempted cocaine importation continued, a statement said.

AFP Detective Superintendent Craig Bellis said transnational serious organised crime syndicates would continue targeting Australia for its profitable illicit drug trade.

"The AFP works closely with its international law enforcement partners to identify and track the movement of illicit drugs bound for Australia because no one nation can tackle the scourge of illicit drugs alone," he said.

"Our priority remains the same - identify and prosecute the organised crime syndicates and individuals involved, and stop the flood of these illicit and harmful drugs from reaching our communities."

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