Police intercept more than two tonnes of cocaine in biggest seizure in Australian history

Key Points

Thirteen people have been arrested after police intercepted more than two tonnes of cocaine.
The cocaine had an estimated street value of around $760 million.
Police allege one of the men arrested was a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged 13 people following Australia’s largest ever seizure of cocaine.

The AFP charged the group — 11 men and two juveniles — with conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea.

Police said the cocaine, which had been bundled in 40kg bales, had an estimated street value of around $760 million, with the potential to equate to 11.7 million individual street deals if it had reached the community.

Packages in the boat intercepted by police. Credit: Australian Federal Police

The men arrested on Saturday night and early Sunday included the crew of recreational fishing boat allegedly being used to import the drugs and people who were allegedly planning to collect the drugs on shore.

The AFP will allege one of the men arrested on Saturday night was the vice-president of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club’s Brisbane chapter.

The arrests were made following a joint investigation codenamed Operation Tyrrendor between the AFP and Queensland Police Service (QPS) into a transnational organised crime syndicate.

The AFP, QPS and Australian Border Force (ABF) tracked the boat as it travelled out to sea, where it allegedly met with a larger vessel about 460km offshore to collect cocaine before returning to shore.

The boat became stranded off the northeastern tip of K’gari due to a suspected mechanical breakdown and multiple arrests were made at sea.

AFP commander Stephen Jay said drug traffickers operating a sea were “not just risking their freedom — they’re also risking their life”.

“Multiple people have been rescued from the ocean in recent years after hitting trouble while allegedly trying to collect cocaine consignments,” he said.

QPS detective acting chief superintendent Craig Morrow said stopping the drugs from hitting the streets was “not just a victory for law enforcement — it’s a win for every Queenslander.”

“This seizure and the arrests will undoubtedly prevent widespread harm to families and individuals across the state.”

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 4.5 per cent of people in Australia had used cocaine in the previous 12 months between 2022 and 2023, equating to one million people.

Last week the Colombian Navy intercepted submarines carrying cocaine on the way to Australia and arrested 400 people in a bust worth $12 billion.

The navy believed it had uncovered a new underwater drug route between Colombia and Australia, however the AFP have not alleged there is any connection between this and the seizure made on the weekend.