<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334434</docID> <postdate>2024-12-02 12:04:52</postdate> <headline>Record bust: police foil $1 billion cocaine import</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-334435" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20230602001806195401-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>Seized cocaine wrapped and labelled by federal police after a drug importation bust in 2023. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Fraser Barton</strong> and <strong>Savannah Meacham</strong> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>The largest attempted importation of cocaine in Australia's history has been thwarted by police who have charged more than a dozen people over the billion-dollar haul.</strong></p> <p>Australian Federal Police charged 11 men and two juveniles with conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into the country by sea.</p> <p>It is alleged the men and crew of a vessel attempted to import the drugs into Queensland with multiple groups planning to collect the cocaine onshore.</p> <p>The men were arrested on Saturday following a collaborative effort by the AFP and Queensland police investigating a transnational organised crime syndicate.</p> <p>The amount of cocaine allegedly attempted to be imported weighs the same as a Ford Raptor ute.</p> <p>The drug bust comes after police seized more than $160 million worth of the illicit substance in April.</p> <p>Three men were charged by the AFP over the plot when 500kg of cocaine was seized off a boat ramp in central Queensland.</p> <p>Officers found 15 black and yellow waterproof bags which contained 32 blocks weighing 1kg each that tested positive for cocaine.</p> <p>Australian Border Force and federal police have seized more than 33.7 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors in the past financial year.</p> </body>