The AFP has charged 11 men and two juveniles following an investigation into a transnational organised crime syndicate accused of conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea.
The men, including the crew of a vessel allegedly attempting to import the illicit drugs into Queensland and multiple parties waiting on shore to collect the cocaine, were arrested on Saturday (30 November, 2024) night and in the early hours of yesterday (Sunday, 1 December, 2024), following a joint investigation between the AFP and Queensland Police Service (QPS).
The AFP will allege one of the men arrested on Saturday night was the vice-president of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club's Brisbane chapter.
This is the largest ever seizure of cocaine in Australia. The cocaine had an estimated street value of about $760 million dollars with the potential to equate to 11.7 million individual street deals, had it reached the community.
The investigation, codenamed Operation Tyrrendor, began in November, 2024, following intelligence that a criminal syndicate with links to the Comanchero motorcycle crime gang was planning to import border-controlled drugs into Australia.
In the past week the AFP, QPS and Australian Border Force (ABF), tracked a recreational fishing boat, recently purchased by a 35-year-old man, as it travelled to sea, where it allegedly met a mothership to collect the cocaine, before returning towards the Queensland coastline.
When the fishing boat became stranded about 18km off the northeastern tip of K'gari due to a suspected mechanical breakdown on Saturday, the AFP and QPS initiated multiple arrests at sea, in the Bundaberg region and Brisbane.
Two members of a group planning to collect the drugs on-shore, men aged 43 and 44, were arrested by QPS tactical officers in the vicinity of the Strathdees Boat Ramp, near the Port of Bundaberg, about 7pm on Saturday (30 November, 2024).
About 7.40pm, AFP tactical officers boarded the stranded recreational fishing boat off K'gari and arrested the two men on board, aged 35 and 57.
A search of the vessel allegedly found 51 bales with roped netting around them. Each bale contained about 40kg of a white substance packaged in individual 1kg blocks.
The substance returned a presumptive positive result for cocaine. The total estimated gross weight of the suspected cocaine located is 2.34 tonnes, which is the largest amount of cocaine seized by the AFP.
Further forensic testing will determine the exact weight and purity of the alleged cocaine.
QPS Water Police towed the stricken vessel to a marina in Hervey Bay.
About 7.50pm, three men, aged 20, 22 and 28 were arrested near a fast food restaurant in Bundaberg East.
Three more men, aged 20, 28 and 34, and two juveniles, were arrested following a traffic stop near Link Road, Bundaberg East about 9pm on Saturday (30 November, 2024).
In Brisbane, the AFP and QPS executed a search warrant at a house in Victoria Point and arrested the 51-year-old male resident of this address.
The 11 men and two juveniles are alleged to be members of the criminal syndicate and were each charged with:
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One count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs contrary to section 307.1, by virtue of section 11.5, of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
The investigation was also assisted with intelligence provided by the NSW Crime Commission.
In the 2023/24 financial year, the AFP seized 31.3 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors at the border and domestically, and assisted international law enforcement authorities seize 41.8 tonnes of illicit drugs.
AFP Commander Stephen Jay said the AFP was alert to transnational organised crime syndicates (TSOC) attempting to import drugs into Australia via motherships and daughterships, where illicit drugs were smuggled into Australian waters on ships for retrieval by local crews.
"We know that criminals go to extreme lengths, and often risk their own lives, to smuggle drugs into Australia with no regard to the harm they cause to Australian communities," Commander Jay said.
"This alleged attempt to collect more than two tonnes of cocaine from the ocean shows that criminals will do anything for their own greed and profit.
"Anyone involved in these at-sea trafficking enterprises is not just risking their freedom - they're also risking their life. Multiple people have been rescued from the ocean in recent years after hitting trouble while allegedly trying to collect cocaine consignments.
"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.
"I would like to thank the exceptional work of our AFP investigators, together with our QPS and law enforcement counterparts, who have together prevented a significant amount of illicit drugs from hitting our community, right before Christmas.
"Let these arrests serve as a warning to those criminal syndicates plotting attempts to bring illicit substances into our country, we stand together ready to act and disrupt your criminal activities, together with our law enforcement partners."
Queensland Police Service Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Craig Morrow, said the success of Operation Tyrrendor demonstrated the extraordinary commitment and resources QPS dedicated to combatting organised crime.
"Our strong relationships with partner agencies nationally and internationally remains crucial in the fight against organised crime," a/Chief Superintendent Craig Morrow said.
"By pooling resources, intelligence, and expertise, we are delivering impactful results and enhancing community safety.
"I'd like to acknowledge the dedication, expertise and tireless efforts of our officers involved in Operation Tyrrendor and our specialist areas including Drug and Serious Crime Group, Organised Crime Gangs Group, Water Police, Special Emergency Response Team, Public Safety Response Team and local Wide Bay police.
"Your commitment to dismantling these drug syndicates makes a difference and makes the community safer.
"Stopping these drugs from reaching our streets is not just a victory for law enforcement-it's a win for every Queenslander. This seizure and the arrests will undoubtedly prevent widespread harm to families and individuals across the state."
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said this successful operation was yet another example of Australian law enforcement agencies working together to protect the Australian community.
"This seizure demonstrates the powerful impact of our collaboration with the Queensland Police and Australian Federal Police. This operation has decisively dismantled a major drug trafficking network and sends a clear message: Australian law enforcement agencies are resolute in our mission to protect Australian communities from the destructive effects of illegal drugs.
"To all potential criminals, know this: no matter how you attempt to bring drugs into Australia, you will be caught. Together with our partner agencies, the Australian Border Force will ensure our borders remain secure and Australians safe."
The men are expected to appear before the following courts today (2 December, 2024):
Maryborough Magistrates Court:
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35-year-old man from Isis Central; and
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57-year-old man from Dundowran.
Bundaberg Magistrates Court:
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44-year-old man from North Cleveland;
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43-year-old man from Mansfield;
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34-year-old man from Springfield;
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20-year-old man from Edens Landing;
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28-year- old man from Heritage Park;
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28-year-old man from Lota;
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20-year-old man from Slacks Creek; and
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22-year-old man from Slacks Creek.
Cleveland Magistrates Court:
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51-year-old man from Victoria Point.
