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Australian police seize record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine in Sydney drug bust
Australia seizes record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine hidden in Sydney warehouse
Australian federal police have made the largest drug bust in the country’s history, seizing 2.7 tonnes of cocaine hidden in underground bunkers near Sydney, authorities confirmed on Monday. The haul, discovered during a targeted inspection of containers arriving from South America, was concealed beneath false flooring in a storage facility near the port of Sydney. Two individuals were taken into custody, and the drug’s estimated street value is A$900 million (€572 million), according to multiple international outlets .
The operation, described by police as a “monumental” achievement, unfolded over the weekend at a property in western Sydney. Authorities said the cocaine was stored in secret underground bunkers, a tactic increasingly used by drug traffickers to evade detection. The bust surpasses Australia’s previous record for a single cocaine seizure, which stood at 1.3 tonnes in 2023. The two suspects, whose identities have not been released, now face charges carrying potential life sentences .
The scale of the operation has drawn international attention, with Europol and Interpol monitoring the case amid concerns over transnational drug networks. Australia’s proximity to South American cocaine routes has made it a key transit point for traffickers, though this bust represents an unprecedented disruption of those operations. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed the seizure was part of a broader investigation into organized crime syndicates operating in the Asia-Pacific region .
Public health experts have warned that the sheer volume of cocaine seized—enough to supply millions of doses—highlights the persistent demand for the drug in Australia and New Zealand, which have the highest per capita cocaine consumption rates in the world. The AFP has urged the public to remain vigilant, noting that the bust may only scratch the surface of the illicit trade. “This is a significant blow to criminal networks, but we know they will adapt,” an AFP spokesperson said. “Our focus now is to dismantle the supply chains that make such operations possible.”
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of Australia’s border security, with critics calling for stricter monitoring of shipping containers and tighter collaboration with international law enforcement. The AFP has not disclosed whether additional arrests are expected, but the investigation remains active. The seized cocaine will be destroyed in accordance with Australian law, officials said.
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