Australia’s Historic Cocaine Bust: Police Seize $500 Million in Drugs, Arrest 13

In a landmark operation, Australian authorities intercepted a record 2.3 tonnes of cocaine valued at A$760 million from a malfunctioning boat off Queensland, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals linked to organized crime.

Australian authorities made headlines on Monday after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced the seizure of a staggering 2.3 tonnes of cocaine, marking the largest drug bust in the country's history. This enormous haul, valued at an estimated A$760 million (approximately $490 million), was discovered aboard a broken-down boat off the coast of Queensland.

A total of 13 individuals, including eleven men and two juveniles, face charges ranging from conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine, a serious offense that could result in life imprisonment. Among those arrested was a notable figure identified as the vice-president of the Brisbane chapter of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club, an organization notorious for its involvement in the drug trade and related violence.

The police operation, known as Operation Tyrrendor, is part of a broader investigation into the Comanchero gang that began last month, propelled by intelligence reports about a criminal syndicate's plans to smuggle illicit drugs into the country. The significant cocaine shipment, reportedly sourced from an unidentified South American nation, happened in conjunction with a recent interception by the Colombian navy of a semi-submersible vessel also carrying drugs destined for Australia.

On Saturday night, authorities tracked a fishing boat purchased by a 35-year-old man, which was being used to transport the cocaine from a mothership when it experienced mechanical issues approximately 18 kilometers from K'gari's northeastern tip. Upon the boat’s interception, police found 51 bales wrapped in rope netting, with each bale containing 40 kilograms of cocaine, totaling the seizure to 2.34 tonnes.

Initial arrests included two men directly aboard the vessel, while operations onshore led to additional captures of individuals waiting to collect the illegal cargo, along with several others at a nearby fast-food establishment and traffic stop.

With over 11.7 million potential street deals packaged within this record shipment, law enforcement’s successful operation underlines the critical nature of ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking in Australia.