Australia police smash drug smuggling ring in largest bust

Australian police say they have dismantled a major drug trafficking ring, seizing over a ton of cocaine worth about 260 million US dollars, in the largest drug bust in the country’s history.

New South Wales police made the announcement on Thursday, saying that the drug seizure included 600 kilograms of cocaine intercepted by the French navy off the South Pacific island nation of Tahiti, 500 kilograms on Christmas Day in Sydney, and 32 kilograms of heroin in Fiji.

It also said that 15 men had been arrested over links to the case following a two-and-a-half year investigation into suspected drug smuggling by commercial fishermen in Sydney, who were involved in shipping cocaine from South America to the South Pacific and the Australian market.

“The size of that seizure collectively — 1.1 tones — makes it the largest cocaine seizure in Australian law enforcement history,” said Chris Sheehan, the Australian Federal Police acting assistant commissioner.

“The criminal syndicate that we have dismantled over the past few days was a robust, resilient and determined syndicate,” he said.

Police said of those arrested during the operation, 14 were Australian and one was a New Zealander. They were charged with serious drug importation offenses and were all refused bail. They could face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Police in Australia said they made more than 18,000 imported drug seizures last year.

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