Austrian authorities bust int'l cocaine-smuggling ring

Authorities in Austrian state of Styria busted an internationally-active cocaine smuggling ring with 30 suspects now in custody, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Details of "Operation Primavera" were given at a press conference in Graz, where authorities confirmed the group had managed to smuggle 38 kg of cocaine into Austria, and a further 50 kg to other destinations as far away as Australia.

They first came across the ring in February 2011 when a 45-year-old was caught dealing the drug in Graz. Subsequent investigations led to three other people involved.

The drug was said to have been smuggled using body packs or hidden in luggage, and smuggling operations largely financed from figures in the red light and gastronomy industries in Austria.

As part of the ongoing investigations, 24 further suspects were arrested between January and May 2014, including the alleged "weapons master" of the ring, whom the authorities said was considered highly dangerous.

Hansjoerg Bacher from the public prosecutor's office in Graz spoke of a "textbook example of perfect international cooperation" in bringing down the smuggling ring. Endit