Six men have been charged with serious drug importation offences following the recovery of 1.4 tonnes of cocaine in what’s being termed as Australia’s biggest drug bust.
Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force carried out a long-running operation jointly with agencies from New Zealand and Fiji following a tip-off in August 2014, that has resulted in the seizure of 1422 kilogrammes cocaine worth $312 million.
The seizure was made shortly before midnight on Thursday, 2 February 2017 from a sailing vessel that travelled from New Zealand to a mothership in the South Pacific Ocean to collect the drugs last month.
Two men were arrested from the vessel, while three more men were arrested the next day in Sydney who were also allegedly involved in the conspiracy to bring drugs into Australia. They appeared in Nowra Local Court on Saturday and were refused bail.
Cocaine was packed large blocks wrapped in black bags. According to the ABF, initial testing of the blocks returned a positive result for cocaine. Further testing will be conducting to determine the exact weight and purity of the contraband.
The accused face life imprisonment or 7500 penalty units or both.
AFP acting Deputy Commissioner Operations, Neil Gaughan, said the success of this over two-year-long investigation was a testament to the tenacity and dedication of the investigators involved.
"Our officers based in Brisbane have been doggedly pursuing this matter since 2014. The interception of this huge volume of drugs and the charging of these six men is a testament to the officer's drive and determination," acting Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said.
"It also highlights the importance of our close working relationships with our local and internal law enforcement partners – without which this operation could not have succeeded."
Chief of Operations Maritime Border Command, Air Commodore Jake Campbell, said the successful outcome of the operation showcases the sophisticated work of the MBC, Australia's leading civil maritime security authority.
"The unique multi-agency blend of the MBC means we have at our disposal advanced technology, resources and highly trained officers to target, detect and seize illicit drugs before they reach our border," Chief of Operations Campbell said.
