Four men have been charged after Australian Federal Police (AFP) dismantled a clandestine cocaine laboratory in Goulburn, seizing an estimated $39 million worth of the drug in one of the largest such discoveries in New South Wales this year.
Details of the Operation
The AFP, working with NSW Police, executed a search warrant on a rural property in Goulburn on Tuesday. Inside, they found a sophisticated laboratory capable of producing high-purity cocaine. Officers seized 39 kilograms of cocaine, along with precursor chemicals and equipment used in the manufacturing process.
According to AFP Detective Superintendent Peter McKenna, the lab was capable of producing cocaine with a purity of up to 80%, which would have been diluted and sold on the streets. “This operation has significantly disrupted the supply of cocaine in the region and beyond,” he said.
Charges and Court Appearance
The four men, aged between 28 and 52, were arrested at the scene. They have been charged with conspiring to manufacture a commercial quantity of cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. All four appeared before Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday, where they were remanded in custody to face court again next month.
Police allege the men had been operating the lab for several weeks. The investigation, named Operation Gallium, involved months of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Impact on the Community
AFP Commander Jennifer Hurst said the bust would have a major impact on organised crime in the region. “This is a significant blow to the criminal networks that profit from the misery of drug addiction,” she said. “We will continue to work with our partners to target those involved in the manufacture and supply of illicit drugs.”
Local residents expressed shock at the discovery. “It’s scary to think that something like this was happening right under our noses,” said one neighbour, who did not wish to be named.
Broader Context
The seizure comes amid a nationwide crackdown on drug manufacturing. In the past year, AFP has dismantled several clandestine labs across Australia, including a methylamphetamine lab in Victoria and a heroin processing facility in Queensland. The Goulburn lab bust is one of the largest cocaine lab discoveries in NSW in recent years.
Police are urging anyone with information about drug manufacturing or supply to contact Crime Stoppers.
