In a significant drug operation, Australian police have confiscated 2.3 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of A$760 million, marking the largest cocaine bust in the nation’s history.
**Massive Cocaine Bust in Queensland: $500 Million Seized by Australian Police**
**Massive Cocaine Bust in Queensland: $500 Million Seized by Australian Police**
Australian authorities make historic drug seizure linked to violent biker gangs.
Police in Australia have announced the seizure of an unprecedented 2.3 tonnes of cocaine after responding to a distress signal from a fishing boat off the coast of Queensland. The illicit drugs are estimated to have a street value of approximately A$760 million (around $490 million, £388 million), positioning this bust as the largest in Australian history.
Authorities reported that eleven men and two juveniles were arrested in connection with the incident, including the crew of the compromised vessel and individuals waiting onshore for the drug delivery. The arrests are part of a broader investigation into the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, known for their association with drug violence; one of the arrested men reportedly holds the title of vice-president in the gang's Brisbane chapter.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Tyrrendor,” was initiated last month following intelligence that a criminal syndicate linked to the Comancheros was plotting to import illegal drugs into Australia. This operation coincides with last week’s news of the Colombian navy intercepting a semi-submersible intended for the same illicit trade to Australia. The record shipment originated from an undisclosed South American country and was being transferred from a mothership when the fishing boat malfunctioned, forcing the authorities to intervene.
Upon intercepting the stricken vessel, authorities from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Police Service (QPS), and the Australian Border Force (ABF) discovered 51 bales, each weighing 40 kilograms, leading to the overall haul of 2.34 tonnes. Arrests were made both on the boat and at nearby locations, resulting in charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine against all those apprehended. This charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, highlighting the severity of the crime.
