Record Cocaine Bust, 2.7-Tonnes Seized in Australia
Police say the haul could fuel about 3 million street deals and has led to multiple arrests in a multi-agency operation.
- On Friday, the Australian Federal Police seized a record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine from a property in Londonderry, Sydney, with an estimated street value of $816 million. The drugs were hidden in underground bunkers beneath shipping containers.
- Operation Minjiang, a Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce investigation, began in May after police discovered 40 kilograms of cocaine near a Midge Point boat ramp. The operation targets a Sydney-based organized crime group alleged to have orchestrated the importation.
- Six individuals face charges following Friday's arrests, including two men aged 21 and 25 who allegedly attempted to flee the scene. Authorities detained the vessel MV Wealth in the Solomon Islands, suspected of facilitating the importation.
- Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay stated the discovery "demonstrates how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are." He confirmed investigations remain ongoing to identify criminal syndicates involved in the attempted importation.
- The Penington Institute reported cocaine-related deaths surged 28 percent to a record 141 in 2024, released this month. Cashed-up Australians pay some of the highest prices globally for such substances, driving criminal demand.
107 Articles
107 Articles
There were as much as 2.7 tons of white powder in plastic containers buried in the ground.
Record cocaine bust shows why Australia is a prime smuggling target
Australian police say they found 2.7 metric tons of cocaine in underground bunkers on the outskirts of Sydney — the largest-ever seizure in a country with a high rate of cocaine use. The drugs were buried in plastic tubs beneath shipping containers at a semi-rural property in Londonderry, west of Sydney, The Associated Press reported. Police estimated the drugs had a street value of $572 million in U.S. currency. At the scene, federal agents app…
This is the largest confiscation in the history of the country.
Australian police say they've discovered the country's wide-ever cocaine haul, hidden under a false floor. Federal officers allege 2.7 metric tones of cocaine, worth an estimated...
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