Australia's cocaine market has been dealt a devastating blow with the largest ever seizure of the illicit substance recorded by authorities. In an operation that spanned months and involved multiple agencies, police uncovered a staggering 2.7 tonnes of cocaine buried at a property on Sydney's western outskirts. The discovery, made on Friday at a semi-rural address in Londonderry, has left experts estimating the street value of the confiscated haul to be around £430 million.
The operation, dubbed Operation Minjiang, is an ongoing joint investigation involving the Australian Federal Police, Queensland police, and other agencies. Authorities allege that the cocaine was initially imported into Australia near Midge Point in north Queensland and transported to Sydney at the direction of an organised crime group operating within the city.
Police estimate that the seized cocaine represents millions of individual street-level deals, with the haul potentially having a significant impact on Australia's illicit market. The two men arrested and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug are set to face further proceedings in court as the investigation continues to unfold.
Operation Minjiang commenced after an initial discovery of 40 kilograms of cocaine in the water off a boat ramp at Midge Point on the Whitsunday Coast. Further investigations led to the detention of an alleged 'mother vessel', the MV Wealth, in the Solomon Islands, suspected of being integral to the extensive drug importation enterprise.
The two individuals arrested will next appear before Penrith local court on 13 August, as authorities continue to scrutinise their involvement in this major trafficking operation. The scale and complexity of this case serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating organised crime and drug trafficking.