Australia seizes record 1.4 tonne of cocaine on yacht

REUTERS

 

A supplied image shows the record haul of 1.4 tonnes of cocaine worth A$312 million ($239.5 million) seized by Australian law enforcement agencies from an Australia-bound yacht last week in this picture taken February 5, 2017. Picture taken February 5, 2017.

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian law enforcement agencies seized a record 1.4 tonnes of cocaine worth A$312 million (191.71 million pounds) from an Australia-bound yacht during a covert midnight operation last week, the authorities said on Monday.

 

Six men, including five Australians, have been charged with the conspiracy to import drugs and could face life imprisonment, Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in a joint statement.

 

This is the largest cocaine haul ever seized in a single operation in Australia and is over 400 kgs (880 pounds) greater than the previous record of 938 kgs (2,06 pounds) in Western Australia state in 2001, they said.

 

"The interception was the result of a dogged, two and a half year, multi-agency pursuit involving the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and New Zealand Customs Service," the ministers said in the statement.

 

The cocaine could have resulted in 1.4 million street deals, they added, without providing details of the latest seizure.

 

Keenan told a press conference that the street value of cocaine in Australia was up to 9 times more than that of the United States, making the South Pacific island nation an attractive market for drug peddlers.

 

(Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-06

Good old Australian Law ! Could face life inside but wont as usual !!!!

5 hours ago, tracker1 said:

Good old Australian Law ! Could face life inside but wont as usual !!!!

Guaranteed the Aussie justice system will deal with them a lot harsher than here in Thailand, and no bribes accepted. Some of these big drug arrests here are nothing but show, pay enough and you will be out short time.

The article didn't really say where the yacht was coming from.  All it said is "Australian Bound".  It did mention New Zealand Custom's Service.

39 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

The article didn't really say where the yacht was coming from.  All it said is "Australian Bound".  It did mention New Zealand Custom's Service.

Joint operation with NZ. Sailed out of NZ to pick up  load from a mother ship. Some reports claim operation had been tracked for more than two years  A bit more detail...

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-06/afp-reveal-big-cocaine-bust-yacht-nsw-coast-six-arrested/8243212

These guys won't see the love gut of day for a couple of decades.

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Some reports claim operation had been tracked for more than two years

Kind of a long time frame. I am sure a lot of people might have been spared the addiction had they moved in earlier but then what do I know. 

On 06/02/2017 at 9:17 PM, gk10002000 said:

The article didn't really say where the yacht was coming from.  All it said is "Australian Bound".  It did mention New Zealand Custom's Service.

It left Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty