LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A CRIME MOVIE — AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST C0-CAINE BUST EXPOSES ALLEGED UNDERGROUND BUNKERS STUFFED WITH $816 MILLION WORTH OF DRU-GS
Australian Federal Police have made the largest cocaine bust in the country’s history after 2.7 tonnes worth an estimated $816million was allegedly seized.
The massive haul was allegedly found hidden underneath three shipping containers on a semi-rural property at Londonderry, western Sydney, on Friday.
Plastic tubs filled with cocaine bricks were allegedly stored in makeshift underground bunkers concealed by shipping containers with false floors.
Andrew Whata Fepulaei, 21, and Kristian Faiumu, 25, allegedly attempted to flee on foot but were soon arrested.
They were each charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Both men were refused bail when they appeared in court on Saturday and will reappear in Penrith Local Court on August 13.
The raid followed a month-long cross border investigation by the AFP and Queensland Police.
Operation Minjiang began late last month after 40kg of cocaine was allegedly located in the water off a boat ramp near Mackay in North Queensland, where police were responding to reports of a burnt-out flatbed truck.
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A staggering 2.7tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated $816million has been allegedly seized, marking the largest drug bust in Australian history
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Plastic tubs filled with cocaine bricks were allegedly stored in makeshift underground bunkers concealed by shipping containers with false floors
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Two men were arrested at the scene of the Londonderry raid after they allegedly attempted to flee the scene
Since then, police have made six other arrests and allegedly seized an additional 138kg of cocaine and 142kg of meth.
Four men and a woman from Queensland, along with a Sydney man, have been charged with various offences relating to the possession of illicit drugs, or conspiracy to possess them.
Police allege the cocaine initially arrived in Australia on a cargo ship which anchored off the Great Barrier Reef.
Two smaller tenders then brought the drugs ashore before it was loaded into a truck and driven almost 20 hours down the east coast at the request of a Sydney organised crime group – leading police to the Londonderry property.
The cargo ship that allegedly imported the drugs to Australia’s shores has since been detained by authorities in the Solomon Islands for further investigation.
‘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,’ AFP Commander Stephen Jay said on Monday.
‘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.
‘Let these arrests serve as a warning to those criminal syndicates plotting attempts to bring illicit substances into our country, we stand together ready to act and disrupt your criminal activities, together with our law enforcement partners.’
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The raid follows a month-long investigation that began with a burnt-out truck in North Queensland
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Cross-border operation Minjiang continues
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A Green Valley man was among six people previously arrested
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15918053/Australia-biggest-cocaine-bust-Londonderry.html
