An international criminal syndicate allegedly busted smuggling cocaine worth $30 million into Australia attempted to use a drone to make sure their meetings weren't being watched by police.

However the plan appears to have crashed to earth, after a joint police operation moved in and arrested seven men over the 92-kilogram haul, which arrived at the Port of Melbourne by sea earlier this week.

A drone was used by a drug syndicate to keep an eye on police. Credit:Paul Rovere

On Monday evening, police discovered three black duffel bags each holding 26 blocks of cocaine concealed in a shipping container on board the Spirit of Shanghai from Panama.

Officers from the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police executed search warrants on Thursday across Melbourne and arrested seven people in connection with the alleged plot. Police also seized $580,000 in cash.