Plot to import 300 kg of cocaine busted in Sydney, Queensland woman among those arrested

Published on: June 15, 2018

Three people arrested in Sydney, alleged to smuggle absurd amount of cocaine
The South American drug was meant to reach Australia via PNG and Singapore
Authorities seized 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and thwarted a planned second attempt
A Queensland woman among the defaulters has been charged over the smuggle

By Joy Joshi For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 07:49 BST, 15 June 2018 | Updated: 07:52 BST, 15 June 2018

Three people have been arrested over a plot to smuggle 300kg of South American cocaine into Australia via PNG and Singapore.

Two men and a woman were arrested by the joint organised crime task force of Queensland, following raids yesterday in Woodridge, Airlie Beach and Sydney.

The two men, aged 57 and 63, were arrested in Sydney and are expected to be charged with conspiracy to import cocaine in Australia.

Queensland woman charged in connection to a cocaine haul worth $105 million

Queensland woman charged in connection to a cocaine haul worth $105 million

The South American drug was meant to reach Australia via PNG and Singapore

The South American drug was meant to reach Australia via PNG and Singapore

Last year, Australian Federal Police’s Operation Harmanecka last year after identified an Australian and Papua New Guinean syndicate suspected of planning to import cocaine from Peru.

The investigation also revealed that a sea container was aboard a cargo ship headed from Peru to Singapore and later forwarded to PNG, where it’s alleged the syndicate was expecting to collect 300 kg of cocaine.

The drugs were then to be smuggled into Australia on a boat via the Torres Strait.

Authorities seized 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and thwarted a planned second attempt

Authorities seized 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and thwarted a planned second attempt

Another attempt was to follow but authorities were quick to bust the syndicate’s Peruvian arm and seize 1.2 tonnes of cocaine.

The Australian Federal police will allege that a Peruvian businessman conspired with syndicate members based in Australia and PNG.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Bruce Hill, National Manager Organised Crime, said, ‘We will be relentless in our pursuit of transnational organised crime. This result is a clear example of what the combined powers of all of our agencies can achieve.’

There are additional arrests expected as the investigation continues.