Six men have been charged over an alleged multimillion-dollar import ring along Australia’s east coast, after police uncovered an international drug-smuggling operation sparked by the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine in regional Queensland.
Nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine was found at a Mackay boat ramp in May after emergency services responded to reports of a flatbed crane truck on fire.
Police believed the drugs had arrived from overseas, and launched an operation to investigate the incident.
On Thursday, the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Queensland police and Australian Border Force, confirmed 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of meth had been seized over a three-week operation.
According to the AFP, the cocaine found in May was part of an international import, with smugglers using two tenders dispatched from a large ship waiting in deeper water to bring the drugs to land.
The “mother vessel” was located, and has been detained by authorities in the Solomon Islands for further investigation.
Six Queensland men have been charged over their alleged roles in the organised crime plot, which police say was to import and distribute the drugs along Australia’s east coast.
A 41-year-old Mackay man was identified as the owner of the burnt out flatbed truck. Police allege he collected the drugs at the boat ramp in Midge Point, and drove them down to Brisbane.
He will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
Police say the drugs were stored at a safe house in Petrie, on Brisbane’s north side.
A search of the property on June 9 uncovered a one-kilogram brick of cocaine, along with other drug paraphernalia. A 32-year-old man, alleged to live at the property, has been charged with dangerous drug possession.
Other men connected to the Petrie home and distribution of the drugs include a 32-year-old Middle Park man, a 28-year-old Eagleby man, a 28-year-old Hillcrest man, and a 24-year-old man from Green Valley in Sydney.
Police said items found during the raid of a property at Eagleby led to a home in Mount Cotton, where 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of meth were discovered inside a van parked at the property.
The property owners were not aware of the contents of the van, police said, and are not under investigation.
The AFP has not ruled out further arrests.
“Organised criminals are sending their illicit business to our shores because of the insatiable Australian demand for illegal commodities and the community’s willingness to pay top dollar for them,” AFP Commander Stephen Jay said.
“The AFP and our partners, through the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Task Force, work diligently to identify, arrest and charge anyone involved in the importation of border-controlled drugs.”
Queensland Police Service Crime Command Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Troy Pukallus said the charges showed significant disruption to organised crime syndicates.
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