Australian authorities have recorded the largest cocaine seizure in the nation’s history after uncovering 2.7 tonnes of the illicit drug hidden inside a sophisticated underground bunker system in western Sydney.
The massive haul, estimated to have a street value of A$816 million (£433 million or €500 million), was discovered on Friday in concealed compartments beneath false floors inside three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry.
Police arrested two men, aged 21 and 25, at the scene after they allegedly attempted to flee. Both have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and face the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted. The pair appeared in court on Saturday and were remanded in custody.
Investigators believe the cocaine was smuggled into Australia through the small coastal town of Midge Point in North Queensland on the instructions of an organised crime syndicate operating across international borders.
The operation forms part of “Operation Minjiang,” an investigation launched in May after authorities discovered 40 kilograms of cocaine floating near a boat ramp at Midge Point. The unusual discovery triggered a wider probe that has since led to multiple arrests and the dismantling of a major drug trafficking network.
Police had already arrested and charged six other individuals in Queensland and New South Wales as part of the investigation. Authorities have also detained an alleged “mother vessel” in the Solomon Islands, which is believed to have played a key role in transporting the drugs.
Despite its geographic isolation, Australia remains one of the world’s most profitable destinations for drug traffickers. Cocaine can sell for as much as A$300 per gram, making the country an attractive market for international criminal organisations seeking enormous profits.
According to the United Nations World Drug Report, Australia and neighbouring New Zealand continue to record some of the highest rates of cocaine consumption globally, further fueling demand for the drug.
Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said the case highlights the sophistication and determination of transnational criminal groups.
He noted that the elaborate concealment methods used in the operation demonstrated the extreme lengths organised crime networks are willing to go in pursuit of profit. Jay added that investigations into the origin of the cocaine and those behind the importation remain ongoing, with Australian authorities working closely with domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify everyone involved in the trafficking network.
The record-breaking seizure marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies and delivers a major blow to organised crime groups attempting to flood Australia’s lucrative drug market with cocaine.
