Australian authorities have carried out the country’s largest-ever cocaine seizure after uncovering 2.7 tonnes of cocaine hidden inside an elaborate underground bunker system at a property in Londonderry, western Sydney.
The drugs, estimated to have a street value of A$816 million (approximately US$530 million), were discovered on Friday concealed beneath false floors inside three shipping containers during a coordinated law enforcement operation.
Police arrested two men, aged 21 and 25, at the property after they allegedly attempted to flee the scene. Both have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Authorities believe the cocaine was smuggled into Australia through Midge Point in North Queensland under the direction of an organised international crime syndicate.
The operation forms part of Operation Minjiang, an investigation launched in May after authorities recovered 40 kilograms of cocaine floating near a boat ramp in Midge Point.
The earlier discovery led investigators to dismantle a broader drug trafficking network, resulting in the arrest of six additional suspects across Queensland and New South Wales.
Police also confirmed that an alleged “mother vessel”, believed to have transported the drugs, has been intercepted in the Solomon Islands as investigations continue with international law enforcement agencies.
Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said the case highlights the sophistication of transnational organised crime groups.
“This operation demonstrates how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are, and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of profit,” he said.
Investigators are continuing efforts to trace the origin of the cocaine and identify everyone involved in the international smuggling network.
Despite its geographic isolation, Australia remains one of the world’s most profitable illicit drug markets. Cocaine prices in the country are among the highest globally, with the drug commonly selling for around A$300 per gram, making Australia a prime target for international trafficking organisations.
According to the United Nations World Drug Report, Australia and New Zealand also record the highest rates of cocaine use worldwide.
