How Australian police made its biggest bust of cocaine from underground bunkers

The biggest ever haul of cocaine has been busted in Australia. On Friday (June 19), Australian police seized 2.7 tonnes of cocaine from an underground bunker system in western Sydney. Officials described the seizure as the "largest ever in Australia."

During a raid in a semi-rural property in Londonderry and a search for three shipping containers, Australian Federal police (AFP) officers unearthed a stockpile of cocaine.

The drugs had an estimated value of about $816m (around Rs 7,697.52 crore), and they were concealed in small underground bunkers beneath the “false floors” in three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry.

“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," said Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay, news.com.au reported.

More from Explainers

Indian-origin Gurvinder Singh accused of running major drug, cigarette smuggling operation in Australia

We take a look.

How an investigation busted tonnes of cocaine

On Friday (June 19), a search warrant was issued by the AFP at a property in Londonderry, a semi-rural suburb and locality, on the western edge of Sydney, after which they uncovered tons of cocaine.

Officials searched three shipping containers located near the rear of the site, unearthing plastic tubs buried in underground bunkers concealed by false container floors, the report noted.

The drugs had an estimated value of about $816m (around Rs 7,697.52 crore), and they were concealed in small underground bunkers. Image courtesy: X

According to police, a 21-year-old Plumpton man and a 25-year-old Liverpool man attempted to run away from officers, but were eventually arrested.

Both were charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an illegally imported border-controlled drug and were denied bail after appearing in court on Saturday (June 20). They were produced before a New South Wales court and were remanded in custody.

If convicted, both face the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Their next court appearance in the case is scheduled for August.

What was 'Operation Minjiang' launched in May

The raid and seizure of the Londonderry property was the culmination of an investigation called "Operation Minjiang" that began in May. The probe was launched by Queensland Police after 40kg of cocaine was discovered floating in the water off a boat ramp at Midge Point.

Authorities later identified the truck's owner and launched a series of searches across north and southeast Queensland as well as Sydney.

The AFP spokesman alleges the cocaine recovered in Londonderry was originally imported into Australia through Midge Point in North Queensland before being transported to Sydney “at the behest of a Sydney organised crime group”.

The latest seizure follows earlier recoveries of 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine linked to the same probe, bringing the total amount of drugs seized over three tonnes under Operation Minjiang.

How many arrests so far? International links under scanner?

According to the police's statement, before Sydney's seizure, another six people in Queensland and New South Wales were arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the failed importation scheme last week.

In the Solomon Islands, authorities detained an alleged "mother vessel" suspected of being linked to a smuggling network, the BBC reported.

Two men aged 21 and 25, who allegedly attempted to flee from police, were arrested at the scene. Image courtesy: X

Other charges have since been laid against a 32-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman from Petrie, Queensland, who are accused of trying to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, the Hindustan Times reported. A 24-year-old person from New South Wales has reportedly been charged and extradited to Queensland.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the broader network behind the operation, including the origins of the drugs.

“This alleged plot to distribute nearly three tonnes of cocaine – by arranging for an international vessel to offload the drugs in northern Queensland before moving them into Sydney – demonstrates how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of profit,” Commander Jay was quoted by the report as saying.

When asked about outlaw motorcycle gangs being responsible for the drugs’ importation, Commander Jay, during a Monday (June 22) press conference, said, "We’re not really at a point at this stage to attribute (the drugs) to any particular organised crime syndicate. Historically, what we have known is that outlaw motorcycle gangs do pose a threat to our country."

“I think it’s fair to say that with the size of this importation, it’s a significant organised crime syndicate. Exactly who that is, that’s still very much something we’re examining," he added.

With inputs from agencies