Australian authorities have confiscated a record-breaking 2.7 tonnes of cocaine from an underground bunker system in western Sydney. The drugs, valued at £433 million, were discovered hidden in compartments beneath false floors in three shipping containers at a property in Londonderry. Two individuals, aged 21 and 25, were apprehended at the scene and charged with possessing a substantial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled substance.
Law enforcement officials revealed that the cocaine was illicitly brought into Australia through Midge Point in North Queensland under the instructions of an organized crime syndicate. The operation took place on June 19 when Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigators executed a search warrant at a semi-rural property in Londonderry. The massive haul of cocaine was found in plastic tubs buried in underground bunkers concealed beneath false container floors.
The arrested individuals faced charges for possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. They appeared in a NSW Local Court on June 20, 2026, and were ordered to remain in custody pending their next court appearance at Penrith Local Court on August 13, 2026.
Further investigations indicated that the seized cocaine was first imported near Midge Point in North Queensland and then transported to Sydney by a criminal group based in the city. The probe, known as Operation Minjiang, commenced in May 2026 following the discovery of 40kg of cocaine off a boat ramp in Midge Point by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in response to reports of a burnt-out flatbed truck.
In addition to the two suspects apprehended in Sydney, six other individuals in Queensland and New South Wales were arrested and charged as part of the ongoing investigations. AFP Commander Stephen Jay commended the dedication of AFP investigators and law enforcement partners in thwarting the criminal network’s illicit activities and safeguarding Australian communities from the escalating threat of illegal drugs.
Commander Jay emphasized the lengths to which criminals go to smuggle drugs into Australia, disregarding the harm caused to local populations. He highlighted the elaborate nature of the alleged plot to distribute nearly three tonnes of cocaine, underscoring the sophisticated and resolute nature of criminal networks in pursuit of illicit profits.
The investigation into the origins of the seized drugs is ongoing, with collaborative efforts between domestic and international law enforcement agencies aimed at identifying the criminal syndicates and other individuals involved in the attempted drug importation scheme.
