Australian authorities have smashed an international criminal group after two western Sydney men were arrested last weekend allegedly receiving cocaine hidden in mining equipment.

In a joint operation with Chilean authorities, the two men as well as three in Chile , were taken into custody after allegedly attempting to import 36kg of cocaine earlier this month.

The international investigation, code-named Op Minnie Water, began after the Policia de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) detected and deconstructed two pieces of mining equipment allegedly containing cocaine destined for Australia.

The PDI removed the cocaine, with an estimated Australian street value of $11.7 million, before putting the shipment back together.

The equipment was then sent to Australia alongside PDI investigato

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