Australian police said on the 22nd that they seized a record 2.7 tons of cocaine hidden in plastic barrels buried underground in a Sydney suburb. According to a statement from the criminal investigation team, this is the largest cocaine seizure in Australia's history.
According to comprehensive foreign media reports, the black market value of the 2.7 tons of cocaine is estimated to be about AUD 816 million (approximately MYR 2.37 billion), which is equivalent to around 3 million street-level deals.
Australian police pointed out that a Sydney-based criminal group arranged for a foreign vessel to offload the cocaine in northern Queensland, which was then transported to Sydney for distribution. The cocaine was hidden at the back of a property in Londonderry, a semi-rural suburb in northwest Sydney. On the 19th, police discovered the drug-filled plastic barrels underground.
Australian police arrested two men, aged 21 and 25, who reportedly attempted to flee. Both were charged with possession of large quantities of illegally imported drugs, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Another six people involved had already been arrested earlier and charged with offenses related to illegal possession of drugs.
The Australian Federal Police explained that the source of the drugs is still under investigation. Police will cooperate with international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify the criminal group.
According to the annual overdose report released this month by the Penington Institute, cocaine-related deaths in Australia surged by 28% in 2024, reaching a record high of 141 people.