Australia Seizes 2.7 t of Cocaine in Biggest Drug Bust Ever
Police uncovered a staggering 2.7 tons of cocaine in a hidden bunker beneath false floors of three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry, New South Wales.
The haul, valued at roughly A$816 million (£433 million, €500 million), represents the largest drug seizure ever recorded in Australia. The cocaine was hidden in compartments that were concealed beneath false floors, making it difficult for law‑enforcement officers to detect until the raid on Friday.
Two men—aged 21 and 25—were arrested at the site after allegedly attempting to flee from police. Both men have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border‑controlled drug and were remanded into custody after appearing in court on Saturday. If convicted, they face the possibility of life imprisonment.
The Australian Federal Police say the drugs were smuggled into the country from Midge Point in North Queensland on the orders of an organised crime group. The operation that culminated in the raid—named "Operation Minjiang"—was launched in May following the discovery of 40 kg of cocaine floating in water off a boat ramp at Midge Point.
The raid on the Londonderry property was the first major step in a broader investigation. Another six individuals in Queensland and New South Wales have since been arrested and charged as part of the investigation sparked by the discovery. An alleged "mother vessel" suspected of being part of the smuggling operation has also been detained in the Solomon Islands.
Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said the plot “shows how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are, and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of profit.” He added that investigators continue to pursue the origin of the drugs and will collaborate with international partners to identify all members of the syndicate.
The scale of the seizure underscores the profitability of the cocaine trade in Australia. According to data from the University of New South Wales’ illegal drug monitoring system, a gram of cocaine can fetch around A$300 on the street. Australia and New Zealand together report the highest cocaine use rates worldwide, a fact highlighted in last year’s UN World Drug Report.
The large-scale bust demonstrates the Australian government’s commitment to policing drug trafficking routes. With major transit points such as Midge Point and territories like Londonderry’s clandestine facilities, authorities are intensifying surveillance and interagency cooperation to disrupt future smuggling attempts.
