Record Cocaine Seizure: Australian Police Take Down Major Drug Syndicate

In a monumental operation, Australian Federal Police have seized 2.3 tonnes of cocaine valued at A$760 million, marking the largest cocaine bust in Australian history and highlighting ongoing battles against organized crime.

In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have successfully seized a record-breaking 2.3 tonnes of cocaine from a boat that broke down off the coast of Queensland. This monumental operation took place on Saturday night and has an estimated street value of approximately A$760 million (about $490 million or £388 million). The seizure could potentially lead to 11.7 million individual street sales, firmly establishing it as Australia's largest cocaine bust to date.

Authorities arrested eleven men and two juveniles during the operation, including members of the crew aboard the stricken vessel, as well as individuals awaiting the shipment on shore. Among the arrested was a man linked to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club's Brisbane chapter, highlighting the connection between biker gangs and drug trafficking -- a cycle of violence that has plagued Australia since the 1980s, resulting in over 1,000 recorded shootings.

This operation was part of a larger investigation into the Comanchero gang, dubbed Operation Tyrrendor, which had been ongoing since the previous month after intelligence suggested a criminal syndicate aimed to import significant quantities of illegal drugs into Australia.

The record cocaine shipment allegedly originated from an undisclosed South American country; coincidentally, last week, Colombian naval forces intercepted a semi-submersible vessel carrying cocaine en route to Australia. In this recent operation, the AFP collaborated closely with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) to monitor a fishing boat that had been recently purchased by a 35-year-old male suspect.

After suffering mechanical issues approximately 18 km from the north-eastern tip of K'gari, the boat was intercepted, revealing 51 bales of cocaine, each weighing 40 kg. The response efforts resulted in two arrests aboard the boat, two more on the coast, and additional arrests at a nearby fast-food restaurant and traffic stop. Following a search warrant executed in Brisbane, all individuals arrested face conspiracy charges for importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, which could lead to life imprisonment sentences.