Two men believed to be part of a Colombian-based crime ring trafficking cocaine and engaging in money laundering, were arrested by the AFP in Darwin after a multi-state operation aimed at stopping the shipment and distribution of illegal drugs into Australia.

One of those arrested, a 33-year-old man, believed to be directing the Australian operations of the Colombian-based cartel was arrested by the AFP at a gym in Darwin on Thursday night. It’s understood he currently lives in Darwin.

Thousands of dollars in cash, electronic devices and steroids were seized from the man’s home following a search warrant. Officers also seized a 7.8-metre boat, suspected to be used to collect illicit drugs dropped at sea hundreds of kilometres off the NT coast.

A Gold Coast man, 30, was also arrested in Darwin for his alleged involvement in the syndicate’s cocaine manufacturing operation. The man is believed to be behind the construction of a drug lab at Durong, QLD which could have produced 700 kg of cocaine.

Another five men aged between 30 and 48 years old, and a woman, aged 32, were apprehended in the Gold Coast in connection to the joint effort between Queensland Police Service, Northern Territory Police, New South Wales Police Force and the Australian Border Force.

Charges for nine people arrested as part of the operation range from conspiracy to manufacture a commercial quantity of controlled drugs, trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drugs, supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs namely cocaine, and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.

The men arrested in Darwin are expected to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday, July 25.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Eastern Command Kirsty Schofield said the investigation and apprehension of the suspects spanning three states had struck a significant blow to a well-resourced and organised crime syndicate operating in the country.

“This investigation has stopped a very large shipment from being passed on to multiple distributors and hitting Australian streets, and prevented millions of dollars from being pumped into the criminal economy,” Assistant Commissioner Schofield said.

She cited Australia’s high demand for illicit drugs and the prices Australians are willing to pay, as encouraging criminal syndicates to target Australia, ultimately causing significant damage to vulnerable Australians and their families.