02-07-2025
How smugglers tried to get a record $800million cocaine shipment into Australia before authorities swooped
A vessel bound for Australia has been found to have approximately 2.5 tonnes of cocaine onboard, worth about $800million.
The New Caledonia-based French Navy undertook the huge operation to seize the illicit drug, on June 25, from a vessel that departed Peru in May.
Seven crew members were taken into custody in New Caledonia.
The drug shipment was bound for Queensland, reported The Courier Mail.
New Caledonian public prosecutor Yves Dupas revealed the cocaine was packaged within about fifty bags.
The operation to seize the drugs took place about 400 nautical miles off the capital of the French territory.
It comes just days after over half a tonne of cocaine was prevented from reaching Australia following a two-month Australian Border Force-led operation.
The ABF worked in partnership with Customs authorities from Jamaica, United States, France in French Polynesia and New Caledonia and New Zealand.
In a statement released on June 18, the ABF revealed they had targeted the 'Rip' concealment method, which uses shipping containers to conceal and transport drugs.
The joint operation took place throughout April and May led to the seizure of over 500kgs of cocaine.
During the operation over 142kgs of cocaine was seized in French Polynesia hidden within insulation panels in a refrigeration unit.
Over 67kg of cocaine was seized in New Caledonia buried behind panels in a shipping container, in a separate detection.
Three other separate seizures saw over 285kgs of cocaine detected hidden within shipping containers arriving into Melbourne.
ABF Commander International Claire Rees said: 'Organised crime groups are highly sophisticated enterprises, with incredibly deep pockets and a constantly expanding global reach.'
'The Rip method is becoming a hugely popular method of evasion, but it is only a possible strategy due to the increase of trusted insiders and criminal infiltration throughout the global supply chain.
'The operation is one of many examples of ABFs commitment to deepening our connection and capabilities with our international counterparts and our valued Industry partners.'
'It was a great example of the ABF officers embedded overseas and in Australia, working with international partners, combining trust, effort and resources for a common goal – to halt criminal intrusion on our global supply chain and keep our communities safe.'
A spokesperson for the French Customs Agency added: 'French customs welcomes the excellent cooperation between its various overseas services and Australian authorities in this operation against international drug trafficking by sea.
'The seizure of over 200 kilos of cocaine by customs officers from French Polynesia and New Caledonia demonstrates the effectiveness of a joint action and confirms the high level of collaboration in information sharing and intelligence between our territories.'
