Australian Federal Police have made the country's largest ever cocaine seizure, uncovering 2.7 tonnes of the drug with an estimated street value of $816 million buried under a semi-rural property in Sydney's north-west.
Arrests and discovery
Two men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested on Friday after allegedly attempting to flee from police during a raid on a property in Londonderry. The operation was part of a taskforce investigating a drug ring along Australia's east coast. Police found the cocaine in plastic tubs hidden in underground bunkers beneath shipping containers, concealed by false flooring.
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 expected to face Penrith Local Court on 13 August.
Scale of the seizure
The 2.7 tonnes of cocaine is equivalent to approximately 3 million street-level deals, according to police. AFP Commander Stephen Jay said, "This alleged plot to distribute nearly three tonnes of cocaine demonstrates how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are. We will work to identify the criminal syndicates and anyone else involved in facilitating this alleged attempted drug import."
Operation Minjiang
The discovery is part of Operation Minjiang, a joint taskforce headquartered in Queensland. Since its inception in May, the operation has seized 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine, bringing total drug seizures to over three tonnes. Police allege the cocaine found in Sydney was imported near Midge Point in north Queensland and transported south under the direction of a Sydney organised crime group.
In May, Queensland police discovered 40 kilograms of cocaine in the water near the Midge Point boat ramp after receiving reports of a burned-out flatbed truck. Six people were subsequently charged with various offences, including possessing illicit drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime. The alleged mother vessel used to import the haul, the MV Wealth, has been detained by authorities in the Solomon Islands for further investigation.
Impact and ongoing investigation
Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Troy Pukallus praised the tenacity of his officers. "What began with the actions of Mackay police evolved into a sophisticated, multi-agency investigation targeting an organised criminal network," he said. The AFP and its partners continue to investigate the syndicate behind the importation.
