The West Australian has launched an exclusive new podcast, Behind the White Line, hosted by investigative journalist Richard Baker. The series delves into the extraordinary story behind Australia's biggest-ever drug bust, focusing on the tense turf war between WA Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) following Operation Beech.
The Operation
Operation Beech was a sophisticated police sting that intercepted 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth $1 billion, destined for Western Australia. The cocaine was seized by the DEA off the coast of South America in 2022. Officers then concocted 2.4 tonnes of counterfeit cocaine using Plaster of Paris, which was dumped in the sea about 40 nautical miles north of Perth. This led to the dramatic arrest of 12 individuals linked to a Mexican drug cartel.
Fallout Between Agencies
While Operation Beech was widely regarded as a triumph, it caused a damaging rift between the AFP, WA Police, and the DEA. According to Richard Baker, the fallout is ongoing, with significant animosity remaining between the agencies. The AFP, unhappy that WA Police collaborated directly with the DEA, allegedly questioned the legality and validity of the operation. Baker noted, "It is quite unusual to have police forces in Australia that you would think would be working towards a common goal actively trying to hijack an operation. There are some pretty bitter words said in the podcast; accusations of jealousy and parochialism and glory hunting."
As a result, the AFP has tightened its control over DEA operations in Australia, effectively preventing the DEA from directly engaging with state police forces for joint operations.
Exploring Australia's Cocaine Use
Behind the White Line features exclusive interviews with undercover operatives, high-ranking detectives, and cocaine users. It examines Australia's relationship with cocaine, as the country has the highest per capita use of the drug in the world.
The West Australian's Editor in Chief, Christopher Dore, described the podcast as a powerful example of the journalism the publication is committed to: deep, rigorous reporting that serves the public interest. He said the investigation plays to The West's strengths across multiple platforms, combining the authority of the newsroom with the reach of audio to bring a complex national story to life.
Key Themes
Richard Baker explained his motivation: "When people use the drug they see the (white) line, but they don't think about the multiple dozens of stories and people's lives that go into getting that product in front of them. I wanted to look at the stories of the men that got arrested and convicted over Operation Beech and where they sat on the food chain and why they risked everything for a very little reward. We spend a huge amount of money policing and locking up people involved in the drug trade, but it's driven by our own consumption and behaviour, and (I wanted to) ask the question of are we policing effectively?"
Behind the White Line launches on May 21 and is available weekly on LiSTNR.
