In a major joint investigation with News Corp Australia, Sky News Australia will blow the lid on the escalating cocaine war in Australia’s Cocaine Crisis, this Sunday at 7:30pm AEST.
The special follows the Australian Federal Police-led sting of the century Operation Ironside, which saw more than 4000 law enforcement officers involved and used an encrypted messaging service to find and charge 251 alleged offenders.
3.7 tonnes of drugs, 104 weapons, $44,934,457 million in cash, and assets expected to run into the millions of dollars, have been seized under Operation Ironside since 2018.
The AFP also acted on 20 threats to kill, potentially saving the lives of a significant number of innocent bystanders, with intelligence referred to state police agencies which took immediate action.
Sky News anchor Peter Stefanovic examines the extraordinary extent of the international cocaine trade as quantities of the drug now reaching Australian shores hit unprecedented levels.
The half-hour special focuses on why Australia’s cocaine consumption per capita leads the world and how the so-called ‘party drug’ impacts every level of society.
Peter speaks with senior law enforcement agencies in Australia and the United States about their determination to rein in the trade.
The special also examines the kingpins of the Australian cocaine trade and reveals the extraordinary lengths they go to smuggle huge quantities of drugs into the country.
Peter Stefanovic said: “I was shocked at the amount of cocaine that’s coming into our shores and equally amazed at the work our police are doing to stop it. But clearly, much of it still gets through, which is why Australia is such a prized market for South American cartels.”
The Sky News Australia special report is part of a major joint investigation with News Corp Australia, drawing on the insights of award-winning senior correspondent Charles Miranda, national health correspondent Sue Dunlevy and The Daily Telegraph’s crime editor Mark Morri.
Australia’s Cocaine Crisis, 7:30pm AEST Sunday 20 June on Sky News on Foxtel and Sky News on WIN