A significant amount of cocaine valued at almost $400 million was confiscated off the coast of Australia in a drug interception operation that culminated in the apprehension of five individuals last Friday, as per local authorities.
Investigators from the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force received information regarding a suspicious transaction involving the purchase of a boat using a substantial amount of cash towards the end of April. Consequently, they commenced monitoring the movements of both the vessel and the persons linked to it, as outlined in a joint press release by the NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Both the NSW and AFP monitored their activities as they traveled north via Nelson Bay and Port Macquarie, according to the agencies.
When the vessel came back to shore on Friday, marine authorities launched an interception.
The two individuals taken into custody on the boat have been formally charged with the offense of supplying a prohibited drug in a substantial commercial quantity, while the three individuals apprehended on land are facing charges for their involvement in the supply of a prohibited drug in a substantial commercial quantity. All five individuals are also accused of being associated with a criminal syndicate.
All five men appeared in court and were denied bail.
Investigators are working to learn more about the origin of the drugs and the group’s alleged associates.
