Record Cocaine Seizure in Western Sydney
Australian police have confiscated 2.7 tonnes of cocaine, marking the largest seizure of its kind in the country. The drugs were discovered in an underground bunker system located in western Sydney.
The cocaine, valued at approximately A$816 million (£433 million, €500 million) on the street, was found on Friday concealed beneath false floors inside three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry.
Arrests and Charges
Two men, aged 21 and 25, who allegedly tried to evade police, were apprehended at the scene. They have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug.
Authorities indicated that the cocaine was smuggled into Australia through the small town of Midge Point in North Queensland under the direction of an organised crime group.
Following their court appearance on Saturday, the two men were remanded in custody and face life imprisonment if convicted.
Operation Minjiang and Related Arrests
The raid on the Londonderry property was conducted as part of "Operation Minjiang," initiated in May after 40 kilograms of cocaine were found floating near a boat ramp at Midge Point.
Subsequently, six additional individuals in Queensland and New South Wales were arrested and charged in connection with the investigation, police reported last week.
Additionally, an alleged "mother vessel" believed to be involved in the smuggling operation has been detained in the Solomon Islands.
Context of Cocaine Trade in Australia
Despite Australia's geographic isolation, it remains a lucrative market for cocaine trafficking. The drug typically sells for around A$300 per gram, according to data from an illegal drugs monitoring system managed by the University of New South Wales.
Australians and New Zealanders have the highest rates of cocaine use globally, as noted in last year's United Nations World Drug Report.
Law Enforcement Response
AFP Commander Stephen Jay commented on the case, stating:
"How highly organised and determined these criminal networks are, and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of profit."
He added that investigations into the origin of the drugs are ongoing, and law enforcement agencies will collaborate both domestically and internationally to identify the criminal syndicates and any individuals involved in facilitating the attempted import.
"Investigations into the origin of the drugs remain ongoing, and we will work with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify the criminal syndicates and anyone else involved in facilitating this alleged attempted drug import."
