Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged two men following a major cocaine seizure valued at $44 million on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland.
The 39-year-old suspects, both from the Torres Strait, were allegedly caught unloading 110 kilograms of cocaine at the remote Seisia wharf near the northern tip of Australia on Tuesday afternoon. AFP officers reportedly observed the men transferring polystyrene boxes from a small boat to a car at the wharf.
A subsequent search of the boxes revealed 110 packages containing a white substance, which police say was tested and confirmed to be cocaine. The estimated street value of the consignment is $44 million.
The men, hailing from Yorke Island and Moa Island in the Torres Strait, face charges of possessing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs. This offense carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Both suspects are scheduled to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today.
This significant drug bust comes in the wake of heightened vigilance by law enforcement agencies in the region. In December, Papua New Guinea police charged five men over an alleged attempt to import five kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia via the Torres Strait. At that time, the AFP indicated that they had received intelligence suggesting an overseas criminal syndicate was targeting Australia for drug importation attempts by sea.
AFP Acting Commander Adrian Telfer emphasized the broader implications of cocaine consumption, stating, “Every time someone buys cocaine, they are funding organised crime groups who are responsible for violence in Australia and around the world.”
The Cape York Peninsula seizure underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Australian authorities in combating drug trafficking, particularly in remote coastal areas. The case highlights the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to intercept large-scale drug shipments before they enter the country’s distribution networks.
As the legal proceedings unfold, this case is likely to draw attention to the strategies employed by both drug traffickers and law enforcement in the complex landscape of international narcotics trade.
