Alleged OMCG link to failed plot to import 35kg of illicit drugs in heat pump

An alleged ex-Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang member and another man are expected to appear before the Parramatta Local Court today (8 March, 2025) charged over their alleged involvement in the importation of 35kg of illicit drugs concealed in a heat pump machine. 

An investigation started after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers detected the presence of illicit drugs during an inspection of an air cargo consignment from the Netherlands and alerted the AFP. 

The AFP found about 25kg of MDMA, 4.5kg of cocaine and 4.3kg of methamphetamine in a lead-lined box inside the 300kg machine. 

Police will allege a Cronulla man, 35, and a western Sydney man, 32, were aware of the drugs in the consignment before they were both arrested. 

The men were charged last night (7 March, 2025) with one count each of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, contrary to subsection 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). 

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment. 

This shipment had a combined estimated street value of $2.2 million. 

AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said the AFP and its partners were committed to stamping out attempts by transnational criminal syndicates to import and distribute illicit substances in the Australian community. 

“Illicit drugs cause immense harm to users and their families and make our communities less safe,” Det Supt Fogarty said. 

“It is a national security issue – these criminal syndicates create an unlevelled​​ playing field in our economy and the use of illicit drugs contributes to the road toll, child neglect and family violence. 

“No matter how elaborate or creative the attempts are, the AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to prevent airports being used as part of the criminal supply chain.” 

ABF Superintendent Aviation Goods NSW Asha Patwardhan said no matter the lengths criminals go to in their attempts to smuggle illicit substances, the ABF remains one step ahead. 

“Our highly trained and highly alert officers are acutely aware of the wide array of concealment methods that criminal syndicates will use in their attempts to get around us,” Supt Patwardhan. 

“This knowledge, along with our steadfast dedication to protecting the community from harmful substances, allows us to remain one step ahead and make significant detections such as this one.  

“The Australian border is one of our most critical national assets, and we will continue to work night and day to ensure its integrity is maintained.”