Eleven individuals, including gang affiliates, were arrested off Queensland's coast as police discovered a broken-down vessel carrying 2.3 tonnes of cocaine with a potential street value of A$760 million. The seizure highlights ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking linked to organized crime.
Historic Cocaine Bust in Queensland: Australian Police Seize $500 Million in Illegal Drugs
Historic Cocaine Bust in Queensland: Australian Police Seize $500 Million in Illegal Drugs
Australian authorities intercept 2.3 tonnes of cocaine during a massive operation linked to organized crime, marking the largest drug seizure in the nation's history.
In a landmark operation, Australian Federal Police (AFP) have seized 2.3 tonnes of cocaine from a vessel that broke down off the Queensland coast, with an estimated street value of A$760 million ($490 million; £388 million). This unprecedented drug bust is believed to be the largest in Australian history. Eleven men and two juveniles were arrested, including members of the vessel's crew and accomplices waiting on shore.
The AFP has linked the shipment to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, known for its violent involvement in drug trafficking throughout Australia. Intelligence gathered indicated a criminal syndicate, associated with the gang, was orchestrating the importation of illegal narcotics. The operation, dubbed Operation Tyrrendor, was initiated last month when authorities became aware of the gang’s activities.
The cocaine was believed to be smuggled from an undisclosed South American country. This event follows a recent interception by the Colombian navy of a semi-submersible vessel transporting cocaine directed towards Australia. On Saturday night, the crew of a recently purchased fishing boat encountered mechanical failure while carrying out the transfer of cocaine from a larger mothership to the Queensland coast.
Stranded approximately 18 kilometers from K'gari’s northeastern tip, the vessel was intercepted by the AFP and Queensland Police Service (QPS). Upon their arrival, 51 bales of cocaine, each weighing 40 kilograms, were discovered tied together with rope netting. Arrests were made on the boat, along the coast, and at various other locations, for a total of 13 individuals apprehended.
All those arrested, including the vice-president of the Comanchero's Brisbane chapter, face conspiracy charges related to the importation of a significant quantity of cocaine, which could lead to life imprisonment if convicted. This major drug seizure underscores ongoing challenges in addressing the illicit drug trade in Australia.
