The police inform about the record discovery. Image: www.imago-images.de
June 22, 2026, 05:00June 22, 2026, 05:00
Australian police have discovered 2.7 tonnes of cocaine in secret underground bunkers in a Sydney suburb – the largest amount ever seized in the country. The federal police said the drugs, which were stored under shipping containers, had an estimated value of around 816 million Australian dollars (almost 462 million francs) on the black market. The amount corresponded to around three million individual deals.
The access was preceded by major investigations against an international drug network. Together with 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine previously confiscated, more than three tons of drugs have now been taken out of circulation.
Suspects arrested
Investigators found the cocaine in plastic containers hidden under false shipping container bottoms at a property in the western Sydney suburb of Londonderry. Two men aged 21 and 25 tried to escape, but were caught and arrested by officers.
They are accused of being in possession of a commercial quantity of illegally imported drugs. If convicted, they face life imprisonment. Six suspects had previously been arrested as part of the investigation that began in May.
According to authorities, the cargo first arrived on the coast of Queensland state in northeastern Australia. Police believe the drugs were then transported to Sydney on behalf of an organized criminal group. The investigation into the network and the origin of the drug is ongoing.
Investigations into the origin of the drugs
Federal police chief Stephen Jay emphasized that the plan to bring almost three tons of cocaine onto the market shows how well organized and determined the criminal networks are. Australia is considered a particularly lucrative market for international drug smugglers because of the very high cocaine prices compared to the rest of the world. (sda/dpa)