Three men from New South Wales, Australia, were arrested on Sunday after allegedly attempting to import almost 500 kilograms of cocaine into the country. The estimated street value of the drugs is more than $162 million.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the men were arrested at a boat ramp near Gladstone, Queensland, after allegedly collecting the cocaine from a larger cargo vessel at sea. The AFP believes the drugs were destined for the streets of Australia and could have caused tens of millions of dollars in harm to the community.
The three men, aged 27, 45, and 66, have been charged with one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug. The maximum penalty for this offense is life imprisonment.
The AFP said the investigation into the origin of the drugs is ongoing and includes international and domestic law enforcement agencies. The AFP also executed search warrants at a motel in Tannum Sands and the residential premises of the men in Newcastle and the Central Coast of NSW.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) said the seizure of the drugs is a significant win for law enforcement and will help to keep harmful drugs off the streets of Australia. The ABF said it will continue to work with its partner law enforcement agencies to protect the Australian community from these insidious syndicates and harmful drugs.