Sydney, Dec 2 (NationPress) On Monday, Australian authorities declared that they have apprehended and charged 13 individuals in connection with the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the nation.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed that they charged 11 adults and 2 juveniles after an investigation into a transnational criminal organization involved in an attempt to smuggle 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into the northeastern state of Queensland via maritime routes, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

Law enforcement personnel from the AFP and Queensland Police Service (QPS) executed the arrests on Saturday evening and during the early hours of Sunday.

The individuals detained reportedly included the crew of a vessel alleged to be involved in the cocaine importation and various associates present on shore to retrieve the illegal drugs. The AFP intends to assert in court that one of the arrested men is the vice-president of an outlaw motorcycle gang.

This represents the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history, with an estimated street value of 760 million Australian dollars (approximately $493.6 million).

“We understand that criminals will go to great lengths, often jeopardizing their own lives, to smuggle drugs into Australia without considering the damage they inflict on Australian communities,” stated AFP Commander Stephen Jay.

“This alleged effort to retrieve more than two tons of cocaine from the ocean illustrates that criminals will do anything for their own greed and profit,” he continued.

All 13 suspects have been charged with a single count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled substances.

Should they be found guilty, they could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Jay and QPS Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Craig Morrow mentioned at a press briefing that the collaborative investigation commenced in November after receiving intelligence regarding a criminal syndicate's plans to import drugs into Australia.

They indicated that the AFP, QPS, and Australian Border Force monitored a recreational fishing vessel as it ventured into the ocean to allegedly rendezvous with a mothership to collect the cocaine before heading back to Queensland.

The arrests were initiated when the boat became stranded in the ocean due to a suspected mechanical failure.

Jay stated that inquiries into the origins of the cocaine remain ongoing.