Australian police seize $500m cocaine haul after boat malfunction
Australian authorities have made the largest cocaine bust in the nation’s history, seizing 2.3 tonnes of the drug from a stranded fishing boat off the coast of Queensland. The massive haul, valued at approximately A$760 million (US$490 million; £388 million), had the potential to supply 11.7 million street-level deals, marking a significant blow to organized crime networks operating in the region.
The operation led to the arrest of 13 individuals, including 11 men and two juveniles. Among those detained were members of the vessel’s crew and individuals waiting onshore to retrieve the illicit shipment. Notably, one of the arrested individuals was identified as the alleged vice-president of the Brisbane chapter of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang. The gang, infamous for its involvement in drug trafficking and violent activities, has long been a major player in Australia’s illicit drug trade, amplifying the significance of this record-breaking bust.
The operation, part of Operation Tyrrendor, targeted the Comanchero gang, which has been linked to over 1,000 shootings since the 1980s. The gang is notorious for its role in drug trafficking and its connections to international criminal syndicates. Investigators revealed that the intercepted cocaine shipment, valued at A$760 million, was intended for distribution within Australia and originated from an unidentified South American country.
The record-breaking drug bust followed intelligence reports of a semi-submersible carrying cocaine intercepted by the Colombian navy en route to Australia. In this recent operation, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), in collaboration with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the Australian Border Force (ABF), closely coordinated efforts to track and apprehend individuals involved in the illicit activities. The coordinated effort underscores the authorities’ ongoing commitment to disrupting organized crime and drug trafficking networks.
The massive cocaine shipment was being transported aboard a fishing boat recently purchased by a 35-year-old man, who used the vessel as a transfer point for the illicit cargo. The drugs were moved from a larger “mothership” to the Queensland coast as part of an organized smuggling operation. However, on Saturday night, the fishing boat suffered a mechanical breakdown approximately 18 kilometers off the north-eastern tip of K’gari (Fraser Island). Police intercepted the stranded vessel and uncovered 51 bales of cocaine secured with rope netting. Each bale weighed 40 kilograms, bringing the total haul to an astonishing 2.34 tonnes.
Authorities arrested two men aboard the boat and two others waiting onshore. Further arrests were made at a nearby fast-food restaurant, a traffic stop, and during a search in Brisbane, resulting in 13 individuals being charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine. The charges could result in a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Authorities highlighted the operation as a significant example of cooperation between the AFP, QPS, and ABF in disrupting criminal syndicates attempting to smuggle harmful drugs into the community.
The arrests and seizure mark a significant victory in the ongoing battle against organized crime. However, investigators continue to examine the extent of the syndicate’s operations and its international connections. The record-breaking bust underscores the scale of the drug trade’s reach, with South American cartels increasingly targeting Australia’s lucrative drug market.