Australians are paying some of the world’s highest prices for cocaine, making the country a lucrative target for violent international drug cartels.
That is one of the key claims emerging from a new podcast investigation that has revealed the scale of cocaine entering Australia and alleged tensions behind the scenes among law enforcement agencies.
The Behind the White Line podcast has shed light on what has been described as Australia’s biggest ever cocaine bust involving 2.4 tonnes of cocaine linked to Mexican cartels that was allegedly destined for Australian shores.
The investigation says authorities carried out a covert operation where fake bricks of cocaine were dumped around 70 kilometres off the coast of Perth as part of efforts to disrupt the shipment.
While the operation was considered a major success in the fight against illegal drugs, investigative journalist Richard Baker claims the situation behind the scenes was not as smooth.
Baker says tensions and rivalry remained between police agencies at a time when criminal organisations continue profiting heavily from the Australian drug market.
The investigation also points to recent wastewater testing across major Australian cities which showed increases in the use of methamphetamine, MDMA and heroin, while cocaine recorded the biggest increase, rising by 69 percent within a 12-month period.
According to the report, state police had worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration during the 2022 operation, a move that allegedly triggered a fallout with the Australian Federal Police and led to what has been described as a secret turf war.
The podcast claims the issue raises questions about cooperation among agencies as authorities continue battling organised international drug syndicates.
(Source: 7NEWS Sydney)
