Australian police uncovered 2.7 tonnes of cocaine buried inside underground bunkers beneath shipping containers on a property in Londonderry, western Sydney, marking the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. The drugs were concealed in plastic tubs under false floors and found in a semi-rural suburb about 60 kilometers northwest of Sydney's central business district [3, 5, 7].

Two men aged 21 and 25 were arrested at the property. Both face charges of possessing a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs. Officials said the men attempted to flee but were taken into custody and remanded after appearing in court [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7].

The cocaine's street value is estimated at approximately A$816 million (around US$571 million), though one source reported a lower USD figure of $57.1 million [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8]. Authorities said the haul amounts to about 3 million individual street-level deals [3, 5, 8].

The drugs were smuggled into Australia via Midge Point in North Queensland. Police said an organised Sydney-based crime group orchestrated the importation [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The bust was part of "Operation Minjiang," launched in May after 40 kilograms of cocaine were found floating near a boat ramp at Midge Point [1, 2, 3, 4, 8].

At least six others in Queensland and New South Wales have been arrested and charged in connection with the investigation [1, 2, 4, 7]. Authorities also detained the MV Wealth, believed to be a 'mother vessel' involved in the smuggling, in the Solomon Islands [1, 2, 3].

Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said, "Investigations into the origin of the drugs remain ongoing, and we will work with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify the criminal syndicates and anyone else involved in facilitating this alleged attempted drug import." He added the operation showed "how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are, and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of profit" [1].

Australia and New Zealand have among the highest cocaine use rates globally. Cocaine-related deaths in Australia rose 28% to a record 141 in 2024 [4, 7].

The two men arrested are scheduled to next appear in Penrith local court on August 13 [3].