Australian Police Conduct Record AU$760M Cocaine Bust
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized 2.34 metric tons of cocaine, worth AU$760M ($494M), after a recreational fishing vessel broke down 18 kilometers (11 miles) off Queensland's coast, leading to the arrest of 13 suspects.
Facts
- The Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized 2.34 metric tons of cocaine, worth AU$760M ($494M), after a recreational fishing vessel broke down 18 kilometers (11 miles) off Queensland's coast, leading to the arrest of 13 suspects.[1][2]
- The operation began last month after receiving intelligence that the Comanchero motorcycle gang was planning to import drugs, prompting a joint investigation between federal and Queensland police.[1][3]
- The smugglers attempted two separate boat operations to retrieve cocaine from a mothership in international waters, both of which experienced mechanical failures. Police raided the second vessel while it was stranded, but the mothership was not caught.[2][4]
- Police arrested eleven men and two juveniles — including the Brisbane vice president of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, charging all suspects with conspiracy to import commercial quantities of drugs. The maximum penalty if convicted is life in prison.[1][5]
- The cocaine haul, equivalent to 11.7M individual street deals, represents the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history and was discovered wrapped in 51 bales with roped netting.[1][6]
- This comes after Australian authorities seized 31.3 tons of illicit drugs domestically during 2023-24 while also assisting international authorities in seizing an additional 41.8 tons of drugs.[4][6]
Sources: [1]AFP, [2]NBC, [3]ABC, [4]Marine Insight, [5]CNN and [6]Al Jazeera.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Crime Stoppers Australia and The Sydney Morning Herald. This cocaine bust underscores Australia's intensified efforts to combat drug smuggling. While the government prevented almost 12M cocaine sales through just one boat operation, private groups like Crime Stoppers Australia are educating the public on how they can help — resulting in hundreds of arrests and significant asset seizures. Australia is where drug crime comes to an end.
- Narrative B, as provided by YouTube and ABC. While the government should be applauded for conducting successful drug busts, that doesn't take away the fact that crime within Australian borders is still on the rise. From biker gang violence to armed robberies at retail shops, the police have been ordered by politicians not to stop these crimes. If these trends continue, Australia faces a future of debilitating social disorder.
