Australian federal police have announced the country's largest ever cocaine seizure, with 2.7 tonnes of the drug discovered buried beneath a semi-rural property in Londonderry, north-west Sydney. The cocaine, estimated to have a street value of $816 million, was found in plastic tubs concealed in underground bunkers under shipping containers with false flooring.
Arrests and charges
Two men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested on Friday after allegedly attempting to flee from police during a raid. The operation was part of a taskforce investigating a drug ring along Australia's east coast. Both men have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an illegal drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. They were refused bail on Saturday and are scheduled to appear at Penrith local court on 13 August.
Scale of the seizure
According to the AFP, the 2.7 tonnes of cocaine is equivalent to approximately 3 million street-level deals. This bust is the largest in Australia in nearly 20 years, second only to the seizure of 4.5 tonnes of MDMA in Melbourne in 2007. AFP Commander Stephen Jay stated, "This alleged plot to distribute nearly three tonnes of cocaine … demonstrates how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are." He added, "There'll be some soul-searching, no doubt, about losing Australia's largest quantity of cocaine."
Investigation details
The discovery is a key result of Operation Minjiang, a joint taskforce based in Queensland. Since May, the operation has also seized 178 kg of cocaine and 142 kg of methamphetamine, bringing total drug seizures to over three tonnes. Police allege the cocaine was imported near Midge Point in north Queensland and transported south under the direction of a Sydney organised crime group. The alleged "mother vessel" used for importation, the MV Wealth, has been detained in the Solomon Islands for further investigation. The vessel is registered in Belize, and the origin of the drugs is still under investigation.
Broader network
Police sources claim the two arrested men were foot soldiers in a larger operation involving the Coconut Cartel syndicate, which includes former members of a prominent Sydney crime family. Queensland police acting chief superintendent Troy Pukallus praised the collaborative effort, saying, "What began with the actions of Mackay police … evolved into a sophisticated, multi-agency investigation targeting an organised criminal network."
Related seizures
In May, Queensland police discovered 40 kg of cocaine in the water near the Midge Point boat ramp after reports of a burned-out flatbed truck. Six people have since been charged with various offences, including possessing illicit drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime.
