Australia Seizes Record 2.7 Tonnes of Cocaine in Underground Bunker Bust

In a landmark operation, Australian law enforcement officials have intercepted 2.7 tonnes of cocaine, marking the largest drug bust in the country’s history. The massive seizure occurred at a property in Londonderry, western Sydney, where the illicit substance was hidden within an elaborate underground bunker system.

Authorities discovered the drugs concealed in compartments beneath false floors in three shipping containers. The operation, dubbed “Operation Minjiang,” was launched after an initial discovery of 40kg of cocaine floating near a boat ramp in North Queensland. This led investigators to believe the cocaine was being smuggled into Australia on the orders of an organized crime syndicate.

During the raid in Londonderry, two men, aged 21 and 25, were apprehended as they allegedly attempted to evade police. Both have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug. They have been remanded in custody and face potential life sentences if convicted.

Further investigations have resulted in the arrest and charging of six additional individuals in Queensland and New South Wales. The alleged “mother vessel” believed to be involved in the smuggling operation has also reportedly been detained in the Solomon Islands.

Australia is known to be a lucrative market for drug traffickers, with cocaine often fetching high prices. The country and New Zealand also report some of the highest rates of cocaine consumption globally, according to UN reports. The Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay highlighted the high level of organization and determination demonstrated by criminal networks in their pursuit of profit, emphasizing ongoing international and domestic collaborations to dismantle these syndicates.

Source: Nile Post