Historic Cocaine Bust in Australia: $500 Million in Drugs Seized from Broken Boat

Authorities in Australia have apprehended 2.3 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately $500 million, from a malfunctioning vessel near Queensland. In a significant operation against organized crime, 11 men and two juveniles were arrested in connection to this record drug bust, marking it as the largest in Australian history.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) recently announced a groundbreaking cocaine seizure off the coast of Queensland, where they confiscated an astonishing 2.3 tonnes of the illicit drug from a broken-down boat. This record-breaking bust, valued at an estimated A$760 million ($490 million; £388 million), was lauded by law enforcement as a critical achievement in combatting organized crime in Australia.

The operation, dubbed Operation Tyrrendor, which began last month, focused on the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking and related violence throughout the country. Its criminal network was allegedly planning to import a significant quantity of cocaine into Australia, prompting active surveillance and intervention by the AFP, Queensland Police Service (QPS), and the Australian Border Force (ABF).

On Saturday night, intelligence led authorities to a newly purchased fishing boat that was previously linked to a 35-year-old suspect. The vessel was reportedly on a delivery run from a larger mothership when it encountered mechanical issues approximately 18 km off the coast of K'gari. Upon their intervention, officers discovered 51 bales of cocaine, each weighing 40 kg.

This incident coincided with similar operations, including a recent Colombian naval interception of a semi-submersible attempting to transport cocaine toward Australia. A total of 13 individuals were taken into custody in connection with the Queensland bust, including two men who were on the boat, two awaiting the shipment on the shore, and an additional group caught at a fast-food restaurant and a traffic stop. Those apprehended now face conspiracy charges to import a commercial quantity of cocaine, which could result in lifetime imprisonment.

The seizure marks a critical moment in Australia's ongoing struggle against drug trafficking and crime syndicates, engaging partnerships between law enforcement agencies in their persistent efforts to dismantle organized crime networks. This landmark event underscores the escalating battle against the drug trade, emphasizing the far-reaching implications of such activities on public safety and national security.