A MAJOR drug ring responsible for trafficking cocaine from Melbourne to Far North Queensland has been smashed following a year long police operation.
Cocaine, cannabis and methamphetamine with an estimated street value over $100,000 was seized after police raided homes, businesses and a vessel in Port Douglas on Friday.
A total of $32,500 in cash was also seized, along with other itmes including crocodile skulls, encrypted telecommunication devices, mobile phones, smoking utensils, scales, and seeds.
The find came after search warrants were executed at homes in the Port Douglas area on Barrier Street, Endeavour Parade, Nautilus Street, Murphy Street, Tropic Court, Sorrento Crescent, Mountain View Road and Cooya Beach.
A vessel berthed at the Port Douglas Marina was also raided as were three businesses in Port Douglas including a gym and a yoghurt shop.
A total of 15 people were charged with 84 offences including trafficking dangerous drugs and supplying dangerous drugs.
Police will allege the syndicate facilitated the trafficking of cocaine from Melbourne to Cairns and Port Douglas through established criminal links before distribution through a network of suppliers throughout the north.
They launched Operation Papa Prowess in February 2017 to investigate the syndicate, as a joint operation by Far Northern Major and Organised Crime Squad and Organised Crime Gangs Group detectives with the assistance of the Far Northern police district.
The QPS also partnered with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and Victoria Police to investigate the source of drugs and unexplained wealth being generated by syndicate members both within Queensland and interstate.