A second individual has been charged in relation to a serious plot involving the importation of cocaine worth millions into the Gold Coast. This follows an investigation conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Border Force, which revealed 140 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside marine engines imported from California. The drugs were discovered wrapped in plastic blocks.
Law enforcement replaced the cocaine with a dummy substance and tracked its delivery to a property in Wongawallan. According to police, a 44-year-old man from Sydney, along with a 35-year-old former lifeguard, arrived at the location believing they were there to collect the blocks containing the illicit drugs. The older man now faces potential life imprisonment if convicted of the charges against him.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer highlighted the broader societal risks associated with drug trafficking, noting its potential to incite violence within communities. He commented on the motivations behind such criminal activities, stating that greed drives these offenders, who seem unconcerned about the damage their actions inflict. The quantity of cocaine seized could have resulted in approximately 700,000 street-level transactions, underscoring the scale of the operation.