13 charged over alleged conspiracy to import more than two tonnes of drugs in Australia’s largest cocaine bust

Thirteen people have been charged over allegedly conspiring to import more than two tonnes of the drug in the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history.

The Australian Federal Police has charged 11 men and two juveniles over an alleged conspiracy to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea.

Police say the cocaine seized from an alleged transnational organised crime syndicate has an estimated street value of about $760m. The operation took place about 18km off of Fraser Island on Queensland’s east coast.

The AFP will allege one of the men arrested on Saturday night was the vice-president of the Brisbane chapter of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club. Picture: NewsWire Handout

The group are accused of conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The AFP will allege one of the men arrested on Saturday night was the vice-president of the Brisbane chapter of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club.

The men charged include the crew of a vessel allegedly attempting to import the illicit drugs into Queensland and groups allegedly planning to collect the drugs on shore.

The men were arrested on Saturday night and early Sunday morning following a joint investigation between the AFP and the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The weekend’s arrests comprise the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Police allege they seized 40 1kg bricks of cocaine (pictured). Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The investigation, codenamed Operation Tyrrendor, was launched in November following police intelligence that a criminal syndicate with links to the Comanchero motorcycle crime gang was planning to import border-controlled drugs into Australia.

AFP commander Stephen Jay said the AFP was alert to transnational organised crime syndicates and is working to disrupt them.

“We know 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,” Mr 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.”

In the past week, AFP, QPS and Border Force officers tracked a recently-purchased recreational fishing boat to sea where it is alleged it met with a larger ship to collect the cocaine.

The smaller ship then became stranded due to a suspected mechanical breakdown before it was able to return to the Queensland coast, police say.

Police say that the cocaine seized from an alleged transnational organised crime syndicate has an estimated street value of about $760m. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Police on Saturday evening initiated multiple arrests at sea and on land. At about 7.40pm, AFP tactical officers boarded the stranded fishing boat and arrested the two men on board, aged 35 and 57.

Two men, 43 and 44, were arrested by QPS tactical officers at a boat ramp near the Port of Bundaberg after allegedly planning to collect the drugs on shore. Three more men, 20, 28 and 34, and two juveniles were arrested following a traffic stop near Link Road in Bundaberg East at about 9pm.

In Brisbane, the AFP and QPS executed a search warrant at a house in Victoria Point and arrested the male resident, 51.

At about 7.50pm, three men, 20, 22 and 28, were arrested near a fast food restaurant in Bundaberg East.

Police vision shows the moment forensics officers on the recreational fishing boat open a bale with roped netting to reveal 40 bricks of white powder, each allegedly weighing 1kg and returning a positive result for cocaine.

The AFP has charged 11 men and two juveniles following an investigation into a transnational organised crime syndicate. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Australia is a particularly attractive market for cocaine smugglers as Aussies pay some of the highest prices in the world for the illicit drug. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Australia is a particularly attractive market for cocaine smugglers as Aussies pay some of the highest prices in the world for the illicit drug.

All 11 men and two juveniles were charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.

All men are expected to appear in courts on Monday.