Australian authorities have seized a record 2.3 tonnes of cocaine in a joint operation with international partners, revealing a sophisticated underground bunker used by traffickers. The discovery has prompted British border forces to study the tactics employed in the bust as they seek to disrupt increasingly organised drug networks.
The cocaine, with an estimated street value of £500 million, was found hidden in a subterranean facility in regional New South Wales. The operation, codenamed Operation Ironside, involved months of surveillance and intelligence sharing between the Australian Federal Police, the UK National Crime Agency, and other agencies. The bunker was equipped with advanced ventilation and reinforced walls, suggesting a high level of planning and investment by criminal syndicates.
British border forces have noted the growing trend of traffickers using underground infrastructure to conceal their shipments. A senior source at the Border Force told the BBC that the Australian operation provided “useful insights into the lengths to which organised crime will go to evade detection.” The source added that similar techniques could be employed in the UK, where tunnels and bunkers have been discovered near ports and airports.
This seizure marks one of the largest ever in the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting the global nature of the cocaine trade. The drug is believed to have originated in South America and was destined for the Australian market, where prices are among the highest in the world. The bust has also led to the arrest of several high-level figures in the criminal network, including an alleged Australian ringleader.
The news comes as the UK government announces increased funding for border security, including the use of advanced scanning technology and intelligence-led policing. The National Crime Agency has warned that traffickers are becoming more innovative, using everything from drones to submarines to move their product.
While the seizure is a significant blow to the cocaine trade, experts caution that supply will quickly be replaced. The record bust underscores the need for continued international cooperation to dismantle the financial networks that underpin such operations.
