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More than two tonnes of cocaine worth $800 million bound for Australia seized off coast of New Caledonia last month

A New Caledonia-based French Navy operation has discovered an enormous amount of cocaine onboard a vessel bound for Australia, with approximately 2.5 tonnes of the drug, worth about $800 million, seized. New Zealand broadcaster RNZ has reported the French High Commission in New Caledonia confirmed the find following on operation undertaken on June 25. A vessel that departed Peru in May, and had been travelling to Australia, was discovered to be carrying about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine, with seven crew members since being remanded in custody in New Caledonia. New Caledonian public prosecutor Yves Dupas has reportedly said the cocaine was packaged within about fifty bags. It was reported that the operation took place about 400 nautical miles off the capital of the French territory and that a French Navy jet had assisted. According to The Courier Mail, it is understood the drug shipment, worth about $800 million, was bound for Queensland. The discovery comes just days after the Australian Border Force (ABF) announced on June 18 that over half a tonne of cocaine headed to Australia had been seized following a two-month joint operation. The ABF had worked with customs authorities from a number of countries and territories and targeted the 'rip' concealment method, which uses shipping containers to transport illegal drugs, an ABF statement said. ABF Commander International Claire Rees had said the method was becoming a 'hugely popular' throughout the global drug supply chain. 'Organised crime groups are highly sophisticated enterprises, with incredibly deep pockets and a constantly expanding global reach," she said. A fishing boat carrying cocaine, which New South Wales Police estimated had a street value of $623, was also intercepted off the Mid North Coast in May, in what was described as one of the state's largest drug hauls. The operation had been a joint effort between state and federal police, with AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto labelling the incident a 'sophisticated criminal plot'. "Australia's vast coastline is attractive to organised crime groups, who attempt to exploit this by trying to import drugs using boats," he said.