Australia: Australian authorities have dismantled what they described as the country’s largest cocaine bust, arresting 13 individuals and seizing 2.3 tonnes of the drug. The massive haul has a street value of $494 million (760 million Australian dollars).
The arrests were made after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) tracked a fishing vessel allegedly used to meet with a mother ship carrying cocaine off the Queensland coast. When the fishing boat broke down 18 kilometres (10 nautical miles) offshore, police moved in, making multiple arrests.
Among the 13 detained were 11 adult men and two juveniles, all charged with a scheme to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled substances. If convicted, they face life imprisonment. The operation followed a months-long investigation sparked by intelligence about a motorcycle gang’s plans to smuggle drugs into the country.
AFP Commander Stephen Jay stated that, “We know that criminals go to extreme lengths, and often risk their own lives, to smuggle drugs into Australia with no regard to the harm they cause to Australian communities.”
The commander highlighted the danger involved in such operations, stating that, “This alleged attempt to gather more than two tonnes of cocaine from the ocean shows that criminals will do anything for their greed and profit.”
This significant bust is part of Australia’s broader fight against illicit drugs. In 2023-24, the AFP seized 31.3 tonnes of drugs domestically and assisted international counterparts in intercepting 41.8 tonnes abroad. The arrested individuals appeared in court, where they faced the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty.
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