Australia Seizes Record 2.7 Tonnes of Cocaine in Sydney Drug Bust

Australian police have seized a record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine that was hidden in an underground bunker beneath shipping containers in western Sydney. This discovery on a property in Londonderry represents the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history. The drugs have an estimated street value of A$816 million, or about US$500 million.

During the raid, authorities arrested two men aged 21 and 25. Both individuals have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. Conviction on these charges could result in life imprisonment for the accused.

This action is part of Operation Minjiang, which commenced in May. The operation followed the finding of 40 kilograms of cocaine floating near a marina in Queensland. Police say the cocaine was smuggled by an organized crime syndicate through the coastal town of Mackay Point in Queensland. Six other suspects have been charged in connection with the case in Queensland and New South Wales. Additionally, a vessel thought to be involved was intercepted in the Solomon Islands. Investigations into the international smuggling syndicate are ongoing.