DrugsNews

Six men set to be charged in international $47 million cocaine investigation

Five men allegedly connected to 188 kilograms of cocaine seized by Australian authorities in 2019 have been arrested, with a sixth man to be served a court attendance notice after an extensive international multi-agency investigation.

The men are being questioned by police after being taken into custody during a series of coordinated pre-dawn search warrants in New South Wales today (Tuesday, 30 March 2021).

Police will allege the men are part of a transnational criminal syndicate that intended to distribute the cocaine throughout Australia after it was supplied by a Mexican drug cartel hidden in a shipment of aluminum alloy ingots.

This amount of cocaine has an estimated street value up to $47 million, with the potential to provide up to 940,000 individual street deals of cocaine. The investigation was launched in February 2019, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at a Sydney Container Examination Facility found anomalies in a bulk metal consignment sent from Mexico.

Their examination allegedly identified blocks of white powder concealed in well-constructed, hollowed-out sections of 188 of the 1890 aluminium ingots stacked on the pallets.

Subsequent Australian Federal Police forensic analysis revealed the substance was high-purity cocaine, with a total weight of approximately 188 kilograms. The major joint investigation into the shipment combined the resources of the AFP, ABF, NSW Police Force, ACIC and the New South Wales Crime Commission (NSWCC), with the assistance of international partners U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Police identified an Australian-based criminal syndicate allegedly behind multiple border controlled drug importations.

In December 2020, an air cargo consignment from India – which was declared to contain vehicle parts – was examined at the Sydney Container Examination Facility by ABF officers, who discovered nearly 50kg of powder concealed within the items.

The powder was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for ephedrine. Following inquiries, two men – aged 39 and 49 – were arrested and subsequent search warrants resulted in the seizure of 50kg of iodine.

The iodine and ephedrine seized during the operation has the potential to produce 38kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated potential street value of $9.5 million. The men remain before court for these matters.

The 49-year-old man charged during this December operation is alleged to be part of the wider syndicate also involved in the 188 kilogram cocaine seizure. He is expected to be served a court attendance notice in jail linked to today’s police activity.

This morning, search warrants were executed across NSW in the suburbs of Condell Park, Lindfield, Luddenham, Sydney, Strathfield, Villawood, Kingsford, Roseberry, Chatswood, Dolls Point, and Lake Conjola.

Police seized cash, various jewelry, multiple electronic devices, and approximately 80 ingots from the cocaine shipment stored at a warehouse in Villawood.

Five men were arrested, alleged to be part of the Australian syndicate linked to the 188 kilograms of cocaine seized: A 61-year-old from Condell Park, a 37-year-old from Luddenham, a 60-year-old from Linfield, a 69-year-old from Sydney and a 66-year-old from Strathfield.

Police were able to arrest these men now due to the continued investigation into the criminal syndicate in Australia and the extensive evidence-gathering process which now allows these charges to be brought before court.

Police will allege the Australian syndicate set up a company in NSW that had a similar name and corporate identity to a legitimate European company in an attempt to avoid law enforcement scrutiny of the illicit importation.

Police will allege none of the men charged are involved in businesses that use large quantities of aluminium.

AFP Commander Kirsty Schofield described the arrests of the men as a significant win in the fight against the illicit drug trade.

“Transnational organised crime networks pose a significant threat to Australia’s economy, our security and our way of life,” Cmdr. Schofield said.

“They see Australia as a lucrative market to target because of the high demand for drugs and the high prices users will pay. “They do not care about the harm and violence those substances bring, or the damage they do when they infiltrate legitimate businesses to launder their profits.

Commander of NSW Police Drug and Firearm Squad, Detective Superintendent John Watson said as organised crime evolves, law enforcement agencies will continue to collaborate and respond accordingly.

“Today’s arrests are the result of agencies here and abroad working towards the common goal of suppressing and dismantling criminal networks who are intent on causing harm to the community,” Det. Supt Watson said. “The syndicate that has been brought down today is significant and shutting it down will put a substantial dent in the drug trade in NSW and across the country.

“NSW Police will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement partners to tackle the threat of organised crime and this result is evidence of that.”

ABF Enforcement Operations East Acting Commander Garry Low said this operation highlights the ABF’s commitment to stopping criminal syndicates polluting Australian streets with drugs.

“The detection of drugs within this sophisticated concealment is a testament to the skills and dedication of ABF Officers working at our borders,” A/g Commander Low said.

“By partnering with state, federal and international law enforcement agencies, the ABF works to ensure drug imports like this one don’t make it into Australia, and that those responsible for importing it are held to account.”

“This is a tremendous accomplishment that demonstrates the combined power of collaboration between international law enforcement,” said Adam Parks, HSI Attaché to Australia.

“Collaboration keeps us one step ahead of Transnational Criminal Organizations who know no borders and target Australia, the U.S., and many other countries around the world.

“We will continue to vigorously pursue these organizations, and everyone associated with them, wherever they hide.”

The Commissioner of the NSWCC, Michael Barnes, commended the work of the Commission’s expert technical officers and lauded the cooperation between Federal and State agencies.

“The success of this operation demonstrates that small, specialist organisations like the NSWCC can work effectively with the large, national law enforcement agencies to bring down international drug syndicates and confiscate the profits of those endeavours,” Mr. Barnes said.

ACIC Executive Director Intelligence Operations Matt Rippon said the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program continues to highlight that even in the midst of a pandemic, Australia’s insatiable appetite for cocaine remains.

“Despite the harm it causes to families and the broader community, Australians continue to line the pockets of organised crime groups who are deliberately targeting our country. “I commend our partner agencies for relentlessly pursuing these groups, their business model and assets,” he said.