Australia’s Largest Cocaine Bust Nets 13 Arrests, $494 Million in Seized Drugs

Australian authorities have dismantled the nation’s largest cocaine trafficking operation, seizing 2.3 tonnes of the drug valued at $494 million (760 million Australian dollars) and arresting 13 individuals. The bust followed an extensive investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who tracked a fishing vessel allegedly used to rendezvous with a larger "mother ship" off the Queensland coast. When the fishing boat broke down 18 kilometers offshore, law enforcement moved in, leading to multiple arrests.

Among those detained were 11 adult men and two juveniles, all charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled substances. If convicted, they face potential life imprisonment. AFP Commander Stephen Jay emphasized the extreme lengths to which criminals go to smuggle drugs, stating, “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, with no regard for the harm they cause to Australian communities.”

This record-breaking operation is a milestone in Australia’s broader war on illicit drugs. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the AFP seized 31.3 tonnes of drugs domestically and helped intercept 41.8 tonnes abroad in collaboration with international partners. The arrested individuals have appeared in court, where they now await trial, facing the possibility of life behind bars. This operation underscores the ongoing efforts of Australian authorities to disrupt transnational crime networks and protect local communities from the dangers of illicit substances.