Australian Federal Police have made the largest cocaine bust in the nation's history, seizing 2.7 tonnes of the drug and arresting eight people. The cocaine was discovered in an underground hiding spot on a rural property in Londonderry, in Sydney's west, on Friday. Holes dug into the ground had allegedly been filled with cocaine and covered with shipping containers with false bottom flooring.
Investigation origins and drug transportation
The breakthrough came from an investigation launched in May, when 40kg of cocaine was found floating in the water off a boat ramp in Mackay, North Queensland. Police allege the drugs were part of a larger importation originating from two tenders dispatched from a larger mothership in deeper water, which moored at the shoreline. The alleged mothership, MV Wealth, has been seized.
The drugs were allegedly driven from Mackay down to Brisbane and Sydney. Syndicate members who allegedly transported the drugs are among the eight people charged over the operation and who remain before the courts.
Arrests and charges
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the bust. The Australian Federal Police stated, "The cocaine is alleged to be part of a larger importation originating from two tenders – dispatched from a larger mothership in deeper water – which moored at the shoreline." The operation represents a major success in disrupting drug trafficking networks operating in Australia.
