Behind The White Line: New podcast delves into turf war following huge cocaine seizure during Operation Beech

Cartels, cocaine and cops — it’s the extraordinary story behind Australia’s biggest-ever drug bust, and now the subject of an exclusive new podcast by The West Australian.

Hosted by investigative journalist Richard Baker, Behind the White Line dives into the tense turf war between WA Police, Australian Federal Police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration following Operation Beech — a sophisticated police sting which stopped 2.4 tonnes of cocaine from reaching the WA coastline.

The mammoth cocaine haul — worth $1 billion and destined for WA — was intercepted by the DEA off the coast of South America in 2022, prompting officers to hatch a plan and concoct 2.4 tonnes of counterfeit cocaine with Plaster of Paris.

The bogus coke was dumped in the sea about 40 nautical miles north of Perth, resulting in the dramatic arrest of 12 people linked to a Mexican drug cartel.

And whilst Operation Beech was widely regarded a roaring triumph, the sting resulted in a damaging rift between the AFP, WA Police and US DEA.

Mr Baker said the impacts of the fallout were ongoing, saying there was “still a lot of animosity” between the three agencies.

“The AFP had found out about this operation and weren’t happy that the WA Police were doing it with the DEA and were behind the scenes creating all sorts of fuss. . . bad-mouthing the legality and validity of the operation,” he said.

“It is quite unusual to have police forces in Australia that you would think would be working towards a common goal actively trying to hijack an operation.

“There are some pretty bitter words said in the podcast; accusations of jealousy and parochialism and glory hunting.”

Mr Baker said the AFP had since heightened its control over the DEA’s involvement Down Under, saying the force had “put the handbrake on them going directly to State police forces ... and running their own joint operations.”

With exclusive interviews with undercover operatives, high-ranking detectives and coke users, Behind the White Line delves into Australia’s relationship with cocaine — the world’s highest users of the white powder per capita.

The West Australian Editor in Chief Christopher Dore, said Behind the White Line was a powerful example of the journalism The West was committed to — deep, rigorous reporting that holds up to scrutiny and serves the public interest.

This investigation plays to The West’s strengths across multiple platforms, combining the authority of our newsroom with the reach and immediacy of audio to bring a complex national story to life.

Mr Baker said “When people use the drug they see the (white) line, but they don’t think about the multiple dozens of stories and people’s lives that go into getting that product in front of them.”

“I wanted to look at the stories of the men that got arrested and convicted over Operation Beech and where they sat on the food chain and why they risked everything for a very little reward.

“We spend a huge amount of money policing and locking up people involved in the drug trade, but it’s driven by our own consumption and behaviour, and (I wanted to) ask the question of are we policing effectively?”

Behind the White Line launches on May 21 and is available weekly on LiSTNR.