Trio charged over big cocaine haul ‘part of syndicate’
Authorities have arrested three Queensland men over a 560kg cocaine haul in Western Australia's northwest estimated to be worth $224 million on the street.
drug trafficking
Cannabis crops seized as major drug syndicate shut down
Police have seized $60 million worth of drugs after two cannabis plantations were busted in central Queensland as part of a national drug syndicate.
Elite task force formed to tackle Sydney underworld war
A task force of 100 officers will probe Sydney's underworld gang war with another man gunned down in a public, execution-styled murder.
Accused cocaine smuggler to remain in custody
An ACT man will spend at least the next month in custody after being accused of smuggling cocaine worth more than $61 million via yacht to Queensland.
Duo accused of smuggling $61m in cocaine inside yacht
Two men have faced court after being extradited to Queensland over the alleged discovery of almost 250kg of cocaine hidden inside a yacht.
Olympian’s brother appeals cocaine plot conviction
The brother of Olympic medallist Nathan Baggaley is appealing his conviction over an attempted plot to import up to $200m worth of cocaine into Australia.
Accused kingpin had it ‘all covered’ until hotel arrest
Accused cocaine kingpin Tristan Waters told an alleged criminal associate he had a dozen people including cops backing him up before his arrest in Serbia.
Crooked cop ‘person of interest’ in $1m cold case
Police have put up a $1 million reward in a bid to solve the murder mystery of Robert "Jack" Richardson, whose case has deep underworld links.
Testing shows use of illicit drugs jumps over summer
Illegal drug use has risen in Australia, with certain areas showing a distinct preference for different substances, according to wastewater testing.
Police unearth largest Australian seizure of ketamine
Three men face life in prison after being arrested and charged over the largest seizure of the illicit drug ketamine in Australia's history.
Brothel owner sold cocaine during ‘downward spiral’
Police started surveillance of a former Gold Coast brothel owner after clients complained about drug use at his business.
Man jailed for ‘escalating’ drugs and gun offending
A Queensland man continued to deal drugs and then armed himself with a pump-action rifle despite being repeatedly caught by police.
British national sentenced over $800m drug haul
A British national is set to be deported after admitting supplying and possessing drugs valued at more than $800 million as part of attempts to waiver a debt.
Six charged after meth worth $1.7 billion seized
Methamphetamine worth $1.7 billion has been seized as part of a probe into a global smuggling syndicate bringing the drug from Canada to Australia.
Brisbane police bust drug lab, seize cash, firearm
A Brisbane man has been charged with a string of drug offences following a police raid on a drug lab in Brisbane's north.
Boat breakdown helps cops bust 800kg cocaine shipment
The discovery of a huge haul of cocaine on a vessel off the West Australian coast appears to be an example of how cartels have changed their distribution plans.
Truck driver found not guilty over 400kg cocaine plot
Osman El-Houli has been found not guilty after being accused of driving 3000km to collect $141 million worth of cocaine in far north Queensland in July 2020.
Man may have been ‘tricked into being drug courier’
Osman El-Houli may have been tricked into being a drug courier by a syndicate hoping to collect $141 million worth of cocaine in Queensland, a court has heard.
Man details ‘scary’ arrest with accused drug courier
A man has described the "scary" moment heavily armed police arrested Osman El-Houli, who has been accused of attempting to pick up drugs set to arrive from PNG.
Rural Queensland farm raid sparks $23.1m cannabis bust
A raid on an isolated rural Queensland farm has unearthed $23.1 million of cannabis linked to a nationwide drugs syndicate.
Hynes’ mum to move from prison to his granny flat
Julie Hynes, mother of the NRL's 2022 Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes, will be released from jail after being found guilty of drug supply.
$30m meth stuffed into duffel bags seized in NSW
Twenty kilograms of meth have been seized during a vehicle stop following a joint NSW and Queensland police investigation into cross-border drug trafficking.
Huge heroin haul hidden in concrete before record bust
A shipment of heroin with an estimated street value of almost $270 million has been detected at the Australian border, with the drugs hidden in concrete blocks.
Gold Coast pair charged after cocaine discovered in stone benchtop
A man and a woman are accused of being part of criminal syndicate that attempted to import $12 million of drugs hidden inside machinery and a stone benchtop.
Plane loaded with drugs ‘tried to fly under the radar’
A plane allegedly loaded with $15 million worth of meth has been intercepted in rural Queensland while trying to fly undetected from Papua New Guinea to NSW.
Man jailed for ‘serious’ drug dealing in hotel rooms
Queensland man Trinidy Clifford Smith used names of associates to hire cars and book hotel rooms across Brisbane to use for his drug trafficking operation.
Police foil plan to bring $1b of cocaine into Australia
Police have stopped 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth $1 billion from coming into Western Australia and have arrested 12 people over the alleged shipment.
Killer’s jail time extended for ‘outrageous’ drug plot
Convicted killer George Marrogi and his girlfriend Antonietta Mannella have been sentenced for running a drug empire while the underworld figure is behind bars.
Qld to decriminalise possession of most illicit drugs
Queensland will move to decriminalise drug possession with police to refer people caught with illicit substances or utensils to diversion programs.
Construction boss on trial over excavator drug haul
The alleged sound of Tony Maaz's "frustration" was picked up by devices planted by police who earlier removed hundreds of kilos of MDMA from an excavator.
Army vet in need of mental health in prison, judge says
Christopher James Finn is in urgent need of mental health treatment in prison after suffering complex post traumatic stress disorder as a soldier, a judge says.