Police have arrested 14 people in three countries after a drug bust in north Queensland.

Authorities say the group used a highly sophisticated technique to import more than 50 kilograms of cocaine into Australia.

They allegedly infused the drugs in barrels of hydraulic oil. Chemists in Australia and Colombia were able to hide and extract it.

Police say the cocaine-laced oil arrived in Melbourne on May 10, was shipped to Brisbane and then sent to north Queensland by train.

Australian Federal Police, Queensland authorities and Customs and Border Protection officers carried out seven search warrants in Mackay overnight, and seized the drugs along with hundreds of litres of chemicals.

One Australian and three Colombians were arrested in Mackay. Seven others were arrested in Colombia and Panama.