Major Drug Bust in Australia: Six Arrested in Cocaine Import Scheme

In a significant drug operation, six men in New South Wales, Australia, have been charged for allegedly attempting to import 120 kg of cocaine from the US. The investigation revealed a clandestine drug lab and led to the seizure of additional narcotics. This operation is part of a larger crackdown on organized crime in the region, following the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the extensive drug trafficking network involved.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2026, 13:20 IST

Significant Drug Operation Uncovered

Photo: IANS

Sydney, June 23: Authorities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have charged six individuals in connection with an alleged plot to smuggle 120 kg of cocaine from the United States, alongside the discovery of a drug manufacturing facility.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) initiated their investigation in December 2025 after intercepting a shipment from California that contained four vehicle transmissions.

Upon inspection, officers uncovered 120 kg of cocaine, valued at approximately 39 million Australian dollars (around 27.2 million US dollars), cleverly concealed within the vehicle parts, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

On June 18, investigators executed search warrants at four locations across NSW.

At one site in Kingsdale, located 165 km southwest of Sydney, police found a large-scale clandestine laboratory suspected of producing significant amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Additionally, authorities seized 44 kg of cocaine and 2 kg of methamphetamine from this location, leading to the arrest of four men aged 35, 41, 45, and 49, who now face serious charges, including trafficking in commercial quantities of these drugs.

If found guilty, they could face life sentences.

Two other suspects, aged 56 and 52, were apprehended at different locations and charged with lesser offenses.

Previously, Australian authorities made headlines by seizing 2.7 tonnes of cocaine from a property northwest of Sydney, marking the largest drug seizure in the country's history.

On Friday, while executing a search warrant in Londonderry, 50 km northwest of Sydney, investigators discovered the cocaine hidden in plastic crates buried in underground bunkers, concealed by false container floors.

This massive haul was valued at 816 million Australian dollars (571.3 million US dollars) and could have facilitated around 3 million street-level drug deals.

Two men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested and charged with possessing a significant quantity of unlawfully imported drugs, which also carries a potential life sentence.

The search in Londonderry was part of a broader investigation by a joint organized crime task force in Queensland, which began after police found 40 kg of cocaine near a boat ramp in May.

Authorities linked this cocaine to a larger shipment dispatched from a mothership located offshore, leading to the discovery of an additional 178 kg of cocaine and 142 kg of methamphetamine during subsequent searches.

It is alleged that the cocaine seized in Londonderry was part of the same shipment and was transported to Sydney under the direction of an organized crime syndicate.

The mothership involved in this operation is currently detained in the Solomon Islands for further inquiries.