MELBOURNE, Australia – Australian police have seized 2.7 metric tons of cocaine hidden on a property near Sydney, marking the largest cocaine seizure in the country’s history.
The Queensland Joint Organized Crime Taskforce announced the discovery on Monday. Investigators found the drugs on June 19 at a semirural property in Londonderry, a suburb on Sydney’s western outskirts.
Police uncovered the cocaine inside plastic tubs buried in underground bunkers. The bunkers sat beneath three shipping containers fitted with false floors. According to authorities, traffickers used the concealed compartments to hide the drugs from detection.
Officials estimate the cocaine had a street value of 816 million Australian dollars (US$572 million).
Meanwhile, police arrested two Sydney men, aged 21 and 25, at the property. Authorities charged both men with possessing a commercial quantity of an illicit drug. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment.
Record Haul Surpasses Previous Seizure
The latest operation broke Australia’s previous cocaine seizure record.
In 2024, authorities intercepted 2.34 metric tons of cocaine from a fishing vessel near K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, off the Queensland coast.
However, investigators say the new seizure involved an even larger shipment.
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According to police, the cocaine landed by boat at Midge Point in tropical Queensland. Authorities allege that a Sydney-based organized crime group then transported the drugs about 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) by road to Sydney.
Authorities Investigate International Links
Police believe the shipment may connect to an earlier Queensland drug investigation.
That case led officers to seize 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine. As a result, authorities charged six people.
Additionally, investigators suspect both shipments came from the same mother ship. Police identified the vessel as the MV Wealth, a Belize-flagged cargo ship.
Authorities in the Solomon Islands have already seized the vessel on suspicion of involvement in transnational organized crime activities. The island nation lies roughly 2,000 kilometers northeast of Queensland.
However, officials have not released further details about the vessel’s alleged role. The investigation remains ongoing.
Queensland Coastline Faces Growing Pressure
Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said criminal organizations increasingly target Queensland’s coastline for drug smuggling operations.
Queensland has about 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles) of coastline. Because of its size, law enforcement agencies face significant challenges monitoring remote coastal areas.
Therefore, authorities continue to increase efforts to disrupt maritime trafficking routes.
Australia’s Drug Market Remains Attractive
Officials say Australia remains a highly profitable destination for cocaine traffickers.
Australians pay some of the highest prices in the world for cocaine. As a result, criminal networks continue to view the country as an attractive market.
While authorities celebrate the record seizure, investigators continue to examine the wider trafficking network. Police have not ruled out additional arrests as the investigation progresses.
Tags: Australia, Cocaine Seizure, Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime, Australian Federal Police, Queensland, Sydney, Solomon Islands
