Australian police have announced that security forces have seized 2.7 tonnes of cocaine from an underground hideout in western Sydney. According to police, this is the largest drug seizure in Australia’s history.
The drugs were discovered on Friday in concealed compartments beneath three shipping containers on a property in the Londonderry area. The street value of the shipment is estimated at approximately 816 million Australian dollars (equivalent to £433 million or €500 million).
Police said two men, aged 21 and 25, who allegedly attempted to flee the scene were arrested at the site. They have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled substance unlawfully imported and have been remanded in custody following a court appearance. If convicted, they face life imprisonment.
Authorities stated that the cocaine shipment was imported into Australia via Midge Point in northern Queensland on the orders of an organised crime group. The raid on the Londonderry property forms part of a broader investigation known as “Operation Mincemeat,” which began after the discovery of 40 kilograms of cocaine floating near a boat ramp in May.
According to police, six additional individuals were arrested and charged last week in Queensland and New South Wales in connection with the investigation. A mothership believed to have been used in the smuggling operation has also been intercepted in the Solomon Islands.
Australian Federal Police Commander Steven G. said the case highlights the high level of organisation within criminal networks and their extensive efforts to generate profit. He added that investigations into the origin of the drugs are ongoing, and police are working with domestic and international agencies to identify those involved.
Reports from the University of New South Wales indicate that Australia, despite its geographic isolation, is a highly profitable market for drug trafficking, with cocaine retailing at an average of around 300 Australian dollars per gram. United Nations reports also show that Australians and New Zealanders are among the highest cocaine-consuming populations globally.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
