A semi-rural property at Londonderry has been revealed as the storage site for Australia's largest-ever cocaine seizure after police uncovered 2.7 tonnes of the drug hidden in underground bunkers beneath shipping containers.
The discovery forms part of Operation Minjiang, a major multi-agency investigation targeting an organised crime syndicate allegedly responsible for importing and distributing enormous quantities of illicit drugs along Australia's east coast.
Australian Federal Police investigators executed a search warrant at the Londonderry property on Friday, 19 June, where they allegedly located the cocaine concealed in plastic tubs buried beneath false floors inside three shipping containers.
Police estimate the drugs had a street value of approximately $816 million and represented about three million individual street-level deals.
The seizure is believed to be the largest cocaine seizure ever made in Australia.
Two Sydney men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested at the property.
Police allege the pair attempted to flee on foot when officers arrived before being apprehended.
Both men have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
They appeared before a NSW Local Court on Saturday and were remanded in custody. They are due to appear before Penrith Local Court on 13 August.
Hidden in Plain Sight
The discovery has shocked many residents given the property's location in Londonderry, a semi-rural area situated between Penrith and the Hawkesbury.
Police allege the cocaine was hidden in specially constructed underground bunkers concealed beneath shipping containers at the rear of the property.
The sophisticated concealment methods highlight the lengths organised crime groups are willing to go to in order to avoid detection.
Authorities believe the Londonderry property was being used as a storage and distribution point after the drugs were transported from North Queensland.
From Tropical Waters to Western Sydney
Investigators allege the cocaine was originally imported into Australia near Midge Point in North Queensland before being transported south to Sydney on behalf of an organised crime group.
Operation Minjiang began in May after Queensland Police responded to reports of a burnt-out flatbed truck near Midge Point and subsequently discovered 40 kilograms of cocaine in nearby waters.
What initially appeared to be an isolated incident quickly developed into a large-scale organised crime investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies across several states.
The latest seizure follows the earlier recovery of 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine during the same operation.
In total, authorities have now seized more than three tonnes of illicit drugs.
Organised Crime Network Targeted
Police allege the Londonderry drug cache formed part of a sophisticated criminal operation involving multiple participants across Queensland and New South Wales.
Several people have already been charged in connection with the investigation.
Authorities have also linked the operation to an alleged "mother vessel", MV Wealth, which remains detained in the Solomon Islands while investigations continue.
Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said the operation demonstrated the determination of organised crime groups to profit from illicit drug importation.
"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," Commander Jay said.
"We know criminals go to extreme lengths, and often risk their own lives, to smuggle drugs into Australia with no regard to the harm they cause to Australian communities."
Impact on Communities
Police say the seizure prevented an enormous quantity of cocaine from reaching Australian streets.
Authorities estimate the drugs could have generated millions of individual sales and contributed significantly to organised crime profits.
Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Troy Pukallus said the operation demonstrated the value of cooperation between state and federal agencies.
"This outcome has removed a significant quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine from the criminal market and prevented these dangerous drugs from causing further harm in Queensland and more broadly across Australia," he said.
Investigations into the alleged Sydney-based organised crime group are continuing.
Police have indicated further arrests and charges remain possible as Operation Minjiang progresses.
By the Numbers
- 2.7 tonnes of cocaine seized at Londonderry
- Australia's largest-ever cocaine seizure
- $816 million estimated street value
- 3 million estimated street-level deals prevented
- Two men charged
- Life imprisonment maximum penalty if convicted
- More than 3 tonnes of illicit drugs seized during Operation Minjiang overall
The police say more arrests are expected. Gazette will follow this story.
