Behind The White Line | Ep 1 | A plan is hatched

Behind The White Line | Ep 1 | A plan is hatched

From Secrets We Keep by LiSTNR

May 20, 2026 · 20 min · Season 11 · Episode 1

About this episode

The episode explores Australia's cocaine crisis and the DEA's collaboration with local police in Operation Beech.

In episode one of Behind the White Line , Richard Baker gets suited and booted to attend the swanky Birdcage at Flemington, where racegoers make a beeline for the toilets to ‘rack up’. As the world’s highest users of cocaine per capita, Australia has become the number one target of Mexican cartels and crime syndicates. With a billion-dollar shipment headed Down Under, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) hatches a brazen plan with local cops from the small city of Perth, Western Australia, called Operation Beech. Read more of The West Australian's coverage here: Behind The White Line: New podcast delves into turf war following huge cocaine seizure during Operation Beech Behind the White Line: International cocaine sting which caused turf war between AFP, WA Police, and US agents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Richard Baker

Topics covered

  • cocaine use
  • drug trafficking
  • law enforcement
  • Australia
  • crime syndicates
  • Operation Beech

Keywords

  • cocaine
  • drug cartels
  • Perth
  • Operation Beech
  • law enforcement
  • Flemington
  • drug trafficking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: US Drug Enforcement Agency, Mexican cartels

Places: Perth, Australia, Flemington

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