Australian police have pulled off their biggest-ever drug bust, seizing a massive 2.3 tons of cocaine worth a jaw-dropping 760 million Australian dollars (about $494 million). The story unfolded off the coast of Queensland when a group of suspected smugglers ran into some serious bad luck. Their boat broke down, leaving them stranded at sea—and right in the hands of the police.
It all started with a tip-off about a big operation planned by the Comancheros, a notorious motorcycle gang. Authorities had been keeping an eye on things for a month, waiting for the right moment to swoop in. On Saturday and Sunday, their patience paid off.
The smugglers, trying to bring the cocaine from South America, had two boats lined up for the job. The first boat broke down, and when they tried their luck with the second one, it also failed. The suspects were left floating helplessly at sea until the police made their move. Officers raided the fishing boat, uncovering massive packages of the drug stashed in the cabin.
This wasn’t a small-time operation. The cocaine had been transported from a larger “mothership” that stayed out in international waters, beyond Australia’s jurisdiction. While the mothership managed to slip away, the Australian Federal Police were able to stop the drugs from ever reaching the mainland.
A total of 13 people were arrested, including two minors. Some were caught on the boat, while others were waiting on shore to pick up the shipment. All of them are Australian citizens, and they now face serious charges, with the possibility of life in prison if convicted.
Stephen Jay, Commander of the Australian Federal Police, said this was a huge win for law enforcement. “Australia is a very attractive market for organized criminal groups to send drugs like cocaine,” he explained. The cocaine haul could have been split into 11.7 million street deals, making it a dangerous addition to the country’s drug trade if it had made it to market.
The timing of this bust comes amid a wave of massive drug seizures worldwide. Just days ago, the Colombian navy revealed that authorities from multiple countries had confiscated over 225 metric tons of cocaine in a six-week operation. They even discovered “narco subs,” advanced drug-smuggling submarines capable of traveling thousands of miles without stopping.
Meanwhile, Belgian authorities recently intercepted nearly five tons of cocaine hidden in shipping containers at Antwerp port, and Spanish police seized a record-breaking 13 tons of the drug in their country.
For Australian police, this weekend’s operation sets a new benchmark. It not only highlights the global scale of the drug trade but also serves as a reminder of the relentless efforts by law enforcement to stop it.
