Australian police seize record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine buried in Sydney bunkers
Two men have been charged after the Australian Federal Police uncovered 2.7 tonnes of cocaine hidden in underground bunkers at a property in western Sydney, the largest seizure of the drug in the country's history.
The seizure
On Friday 19 June, officers raided a semi-rural property in Londonderry, on Sydney's western fringes, and found plastic tubs filled with cocaine buried in bunkers concealed beneath three shipping containers. The 2.7-tonne haul is the largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in Australia, surpassing all previous busts. Police estimated the street value at A$816 million (£433 million, €500 million), equivalent to roughly three million individual deals.
Investigation and arrests
Two men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested at the scene after allegedly attempting to flee. They were charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and appeared in a New South Wales local court on Saturday, where they were remanded in custody. The pair face life imprisonment if convicted. Their next court appearance is scheduled for 13 August at Penrith local court.
- 40kg of cocaine found at Midge Point; Operation Minjiang launched
- 2.7 tonnes seized in Londonderry; two men arrested
- Suspects appear in court, remanded in custody
- Next court appearance at Penrith local court
Smuggling route and Operation Minjiang
Police allege the cocaine was smuggled into Australia via the small coastal town of Midge Point in North Queensland, on the orders of a Sydney-based organised crime group. The seizure was part of Operation Minjiang, a joint investigation launched in May after 40 kilograms of cocaine were found floating in the water off a boat ramp at Midge Point. The operation involves the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police, the Australian Border Force and other agencies. Six additional people have been arrested in Queensland and New South Wales in connection with the broader investigation.
International links
An alleged "mother vessel", the MV Wealth, suspected of being part of the smuggling operation, has been detained in the Solomon Islands. Authorities are working with international partners to trace the origin of the drugs and identify the criminal syndicates behind the attempted importation.
Investigations into the origin of the drugs remain ongoing, and we will work with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify the criminal syndicates and anyone else involved in facilitating this alleged attempted drug import.
