A burning pile of marijuana and other drugs
A burning pile of marijuana and other drugs are being incinerated at a camp of the Mexican Army's 28th infantry battalion in Tijuana, Mexico, August 18, 2015. A total of 138.7 tonnes of drugs seized during this administration, including 7 tonnes seized in Tijuana, were burned simultaneously in nine states across the country, in an incineration operation coordinated by Mexico's Attorney General office, local media reported. Reuters/Jorge Duenes

NSW Police have arrested 11 people after intercepting a drug laden plane near the Victorian border. Outlaw motorcycle gangs are believed to be linked with the cross-border drug bust.

Authorities from Queensland, South Australia and NSW have been involved in an investigation for eight months. John Charles White, the 67-year-old pilot, was arrested on the tarmac of Deniliquin airport at 4.30pm on Wednesday. The Queensland pilot who had flown from Adelaide was charged with two counts of supplying large commercial quantities of drugs.

According to NSW gangs squad detectives, 45 kilograms of cannabis and four kilograms of a precursor to the drug ice were discovered on board. “What we’re seeing today is a culmination of about six months’ work,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Detective Inspector Gavin Wood by saying. “It’s a great result (that shows) all police forces working collectively together, can produce great results.”

Police believe affiliates of South Australian bike gangs, the Descendants and Hells Angels, are behind the smuggling of firearms and drugs into NSW. The seized plane is a part of the operation, according to police.

Meanwhile, another 30 kilograms of cocaine worth $30 million was found inside a yacht on the Gold Coast. The yacht Solay which travelled from Latin America via Vanuatu had a total of 100 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $100 million.

“I am very pleased for the parents of our state, for the parents of our country, that we’ve been able to take these drugs away from kids that otherwise might have been dealt these drugs by motorcycle gangs and others,” The Guardian quoted border protection minister Peter Dutton by saying.

Police have managed to seize 100 ecstasy pills, 38 guns and a small amount of ice over the last eight months. They have also managed to link it with South Australian bike gangs.

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