Largest Cocaine Bust in Australia Seized from Underground Bunker Raid

Tue Jun 23 2026 15:35:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Australian police seized 2.7 tonnes of cocaine in a western Sydney bunker, marking the nation’s biggest drug haul and prompting ongoing investigations into international smuggling networks.

Australian authorities uncovered the country’s largest cocaine seizure, 2.7 tonnes worth an estimated A$816 million, in an underground bunker in Londonderry, western Sydney. The drugs, hidden beneath false floors in shipping containers, were allegedly imported via Midge Point in North Queensland under the direction of an organised crime group. Two young men were arrested at the scene and face life sentences. The raid, part of “Operation Minjiang,” follows a prior discovery of 40 kg of cocaine in waters off Midge Point and led to six more arrests across Queensland and New South Wales. With a mother vessel detained in the Solomon Islands, investigators are collaborating internationally to trace the syndicate responsible for this high‑profile import operation.

Largest Cocaine Bust in Australia Seized from Underground Bunker Raid

Australian police have seized 2.7 tonnes of cocaine – the nation's biggest ever drug haul – from an underground bunker in western Sydney.

The drugs, estimated at A$816 million (£433 million, €500 million) street value, were discovered on Friday in compartments hidden beneath false floors inside three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry.

Two men, aged 21 and 25, who reportedly tried to flee from police, were arrested on the scene and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of the unlawfully imported border‑controlled drug. They were remanded in custody after appearing in court on Saturday, facing potential life imprisonment if convicted.

Police say the cocaine was smuggled into Australia via the small town of Midge Point in North Queensland, under the orders of an organised crime group. The raid was part of “Operation Minjiang,” launched in May following a prior find of 40 kg of cocaine floating in the water off a boat ramp at Midge Point.

Another six people in Queensland and New South Wales were arrested and charged as part of investigations triggered by the initial discovery. An alleged “mother vessel,” suspected of being a key component of the smuggling chain, has also been detained in the Solomon Islands.

Despite its remoteness, Australia remains a lucrative market for cocaine, which typically fetches around A$300 per gram, according to the University of New South Wales illicit drug monitoring system. Australians and New Zealanders have the highest cocaine use rates globally, as reported by the UN World Drug Report.

Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said the alleged plot demonstrates the “highly organised and determined” nature of these criminal networks and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to make a profit.

Investigations into the origin of the drugs remain ongoing, with authorities working with international and domestic law‑enforcement partners to identify the syndicates and any others who may have facilitated the suspected drug import operation.

Two men aged 21 and 25 were arrested at the scene