Australian police seized a record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine, valued at A$816 million, hidden in underground bunkers near Sydney. Two men were arrested and charged.
This record seizure highlights the significant scale of international drug trafficking operations targeting Australia and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organised crime syndicates.
Australian police have seized a record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine, discovered hidden in underground bunkers in western Sydney. The drugs, with an estimated street value of A$816 million ($572.3 million), were found concealed beneath false floors in three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry.
Two men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested at the scene and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug. Police allege the cocaine was smuggled into Australia via Midge Point in North Queensland on the orders of an organised crime group. The two men face life in prison if convicted.
The raid was part of an investigation into an organised crime syndicate accused of importing drugs along Australia's east coast. Earlier interceptions linked to the same investigation yielded 178 kg of cocaine and 142 kg of methamphetamine, bringing the total amount of drugs seized to over three tonnes.