Five men have been arrested in connection to the seizure of over a ton of cocaine from aboard a boat off the coast of New South Wales, Australia. The drug bust, which concluded on Friday, was the result of a coordinated operation by the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who had been tracking the vessel and its occupants for several weeks.
Authorities obtained intelligence about a suspicious purchase of a boat with a large sum of cash in late April and began monitoring the vessel’s movements, according to statements from the NSW and AFP. The boat was tracked as it traveled north via Nelson Bay and Port Macquarie, with both agencies closely following its activities. When the vessel returned to shore on Friday, marine authorities launched an interception, leading to the discovery of approximately 1,110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tons.
The cocaine, estimated to have a potential street value of nearly $400 million, was found aboard the vessel, and two men—aged 24 and 26—were arrested on board. Further, three men—aged 28, 29, and 35—were arrested on shore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the area. All five men faced charges including supplying a prohibited drug in a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto emphasized that Australia’s vast coastline is a prime target for organized crime groups attempting to smuggle drugs. He stated, “The bad news for them is the AFP will continue to work together with our partners to target organized crime syndicates who wrongly believe they can operate with impunity.”
Investigators are currently working to determine the origin of the drugs and the extent of the criminal network involved. The arrest underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in combating cross-border drug trafficking and the high financial stakes associated with such crimes.