More than 33.7 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors have been seized at Australian borders and across the country in the past financial year, federal authorities say.

The seizures include 11 tonnes of methamphetamine, 6.8 tonnes of 1,4-butanediol, 5.6 tonnes of coctainem 1.8 tonnes of MDMA, 1.5 tonnes of ketamine and 745kg of heroin.

The total amount was an increase of 7.1 tonnes on the previous financial year.

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Some of the most significant seizures include the alleged import of 500kg of cocaine into regional Queensland, allegedly by three men from New South Wales, the alleged import of 180 litres of bute from China in baby oil bottles, and the arrest of three men over their alleged involvement in the importation and possession of about 560kg of cocaine dropped at sea off the coast of Western Australia.

Police say the seizure of the drugs prevented serious harm to Australians and makes for sobering reflection as the year draws to a close.

"Australia sadly remains a lucrative target for transnational serious organised crime and while these criminal syndicates continue to become more sophisticated in their attempts to smuggle harmful drugs into our country, the AFP and our law enforcement partners, remain a step ahead," AFP Commander Paula Hudson said.

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"The increase in the number of seizures at the border, and AFP successful operations across Australia, should also serve as a warning to the criminal syndicates which are trying to bring these illicit drugs into this country.

"We are watching, we are ready, and we will bring you to justice."

There were 11,220 Australians hospitalised – the equivalent of over 30 hospitalisations every day in 2021-22 – from methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin consumption.

ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff praised the efforts of Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police officers in 2024.

"As the year draws to a close, it's quite sobering to see these figures and to consider the immense community harm that has been prevented by the dedication and significant efforts of officers in our agencies and law enforcement partners," Acting Commander Sokoloff said.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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A Christmas trend gaining popularity on TikTok that involves motorists wrapping their cars in bright, bold lights, may have less than festive consequences, police have warned.

The trend sees drivers wrap their cars in Christmas lights, plugging them into the car's electrical circuit.

"How-to" videos are circulating online.

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"The reason I plugged it into the front seat and not all the way in the trunk is because if I see a cop or if I see someone who's a bit suspicious or I don't want to be shown – I literally click this button and it turns it off," one driver said.

Queensland Police have warned drivers could be fined more than $300 for violating lighting regulations.

Only police vehicles are permitted to display blue and red lights, while vehicles with red and green lights can be mistaken for ambulances.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.

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A group of 13 men, including two minors, have been charged as part of the largest-ever cocaine bust in Australian history.

Police seized a whopping 2.34 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $760 million from a vessel off the coast of Queensland on Saturday.

The Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police and Australian Border Force arrested the men on the vessel and several others on-shore during the joint drug investigation.

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The operation, named Operation Tyrrendor, began in November following a tip-off that the Comanchero bikie gang was allegedly planning to import drugs into the country.

Police tracked a fishing boat as it travelled out to sea to meet a mothership which allegedly had the huge vat of cocaine on board.

The boat was intercepted before it returned to the Queensland coastline.

It became stranded off the north-east tip of K'gari over a suspected mechanical issue.

A search of the boat uncovered 51 bales containing 40kg of a white substance in individual 1kg blocks, police said.

The estimated gross weight for the suspected cocaine, which is awaiting tests, is 2.34 tonnes.

This makes it the largest amount of cocaine seized by the AFP.

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Police made multiple arrests at sea and again on-shore in Bundaberg and Brisbane.

The 11 men, aged between 20 and 57, and two juveniles are alleged to be members of the criminal syndicate.

Police will allege one of the men arrested on Saturday was the vice-president of the Comanchero's Brisbane chapter. 

All were charged with one count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, which carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

The men are expected to appear in courts in Brisbane today.

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"We know that criminals go to extreme lengths, and often risk their own lives, to smuggle drugs into Australia with no regard to the harm they cause to Australian communities," AFP Commander Stephen Jay said. 

"This alleged attempt to collect more than two tonnes of cocaine from the ocean shows that criminals will do anything for their own greed and profit."  

Jay added: "Let these arrests serve as a warning to those criminal syndicates plotting attempts to bring illicit substances into our country, we stand together ready to act and disrupt your criminal activities, together with our law enforcement partners."  

A man aged in his 60s has been rushed to hospital after being attacked by a shark off the Queensland coast.

He was bitten by the shark at Curtis Island near Gladstone about 8.25am today and suffered lacerations and abrasions on both arms and a hand.

Paramedics rushed to the site as local water police helped return him to shore.

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The man was taken to Gladstone Hospital in a stable condition.

Fisheries Queensland has been advised of the incident and is working with authorities to provide any assistance as required.

"Our thoughts are with the injured man and anyone who witnessed the incident, as well as those who assisted at the scene," a spokesperson said.

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There are no shark nets or drumlines at the site of the attack.

There is no further information on the circumstances around the incident or the species of shark responsible. 

Fisheries Queensland advises people to swim in clear water away from fishers, keep fish waste out of swimming areas, avoid swimming at dawn or dusk, not to swim alone and swim between the flags at patrolled beaches.

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