Australian Federal Police

Massive NSW Drug Bust: Police Seize $623M in Cocaine

Cocaine

A massive NSW drug bust has resulted in five arrests and the seizure of more than a tonne of cocaine worth an estimated $623 million. Following a joint investigation under Strike Force Blaine, police intercepted a motor cruiser off South West Rocks. The vessel was tracked from Sydney to Port Macquarie before being stopped. Authorities allege the group planned to traffic over a million street-level cocaine doses into regional communities across New South Wales.

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Singapore Man Charged After 40kg Drug Haul Found in Sydney Airport Luggage

Drug Trafficking

A Singaporean national has been charged with importing 32kg of methamphetamine and 8kg of cocaine into Australia after authorities found the illicit drugs in abandoned luggage at Sydney Airport. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) worked together to track and arrest the suspect in Adelaide before extraditing him to NSW.

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Malaysian man charged over failed plot to import more than half a tonne of illicit drugs into Australia

Drug Trafficking

The AFP has charged a Malaysian man over a failed plot to import more than half a tonne of illicit drugs into Australia in July, 2024. The man, 35, was arrested in Coffs Harbour yesterday(10 February, 2025), and charged over his alleged involvement in the importation of 421kg of MDMA pills, 120kg in blocks of an illicit substance suspected to be ‘pink cocaine’ and 80kg of methamphetamine in a consignment sent from Italy. The AFP executed a search warrant yesterday (10 February, 2025) on a vehicle located in a public carpark in Coffs Harbour where they seized 470 grams of pseudoephedrine and an allegedly fraudulent driver’s licence. The man, who was identified during an investigation into the drug import, was charged with: The maximum penalty for the offences is life imprisonment. He is expected to appear before the Coffs Harbour Local Court today (11February, 2025). He is the sixth person charged after being linked to a syndicate allegedly responsible for the importation attempt. On 15 January, 2025, the AFP charged two Chinese nationals and a Sydney man over the failed plot with a further two Chinese nationals charged over the alleged possession of precursor chemicals. The AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF) launched a joint investigation in July, 2024, after ABF officers found the MDMA and methamphetamine in a consignment of galvanised hooks that arrived at the Port of Melbourne. The MDMA pills had an estimated street value of about $26 million and could have been sold as roughly one million street deals. The methamphetamine had an estimated street value close to $74 million and could have been sold as up to 800,000 street deals. The Australian market for Tusi, or ‘pink cocaine’, is not well-established, but wholesale prices of the drug cocktail are understood to be between $100,000 and $140,000 per kilogram. This means the ‘pink cocaine’, if sold, could have had a potential street value of up to $16.8 million. AFP Detective acting Superintendent Rick Briggs said today’s result demonstrated the extraordinary commitment and resources the AFP dedicated to combatting organised crime.  “Stopping these drugs from reaching our streets is not just a victory for law enforcement—it’s a win for every Australian. This seizure and the arrests will undoubtedly prevent widespread harm to families and individuals across the country,” D/a/Supt Briggs said. “I’d like to acknowledge the dedication and tireless efforts of the officers involved in this investigation as well as our specialist areas, which bring world-leading expertise to the table. “Their commitment to dismantling these drug syndicates makes a difference and makes the community safer. ” 11th February 2025 Source: AFP

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AFP and ABF seize 33.7 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors

Drug Trafficking

The AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF) have seized more than 33.7 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors in the past financial year. The majority of illicit drugs seized include methamphetamine (11t), 1,4-butanediol (6.8t), cocaine (5.6t), MDMA (1.8t), ketamine (1.5t) and heroin (745kg). The amount of illicit drugs and precursors seized in 2023-24 was an increase compared to the previous financial year, with an additional 7.1 tonnes of border-controlled drugs seized by the AFP and ABF at the border and across Australia. The AFP works with ABF to disrupt the attempts of criminal syndicates to import and traffic illicit drugs through the aviation, maritime and postal streams. In April, 2024, the AFP charged three men from New South Wales over an alleged import of 500kg of cocaine into regional Queensland via a large cargo vessel. The AFP searched the vessel and found 15 black and yellow waterproof bags that each contained about 32 blocks of a substance that tested positive to cocaine. Each block weighed about 1kg. More than 4200 litres of 1,4 Butanediol, known as ‘bute’, has been seized by authorities in Sydney since a change in Commonwealth legislation in March 2024 defined it as a border controlled drug (Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No.2) Act 2023). The seizures included 180 litres of bute imported from China and was concealed in bottles labelled as body oil. The ABF alerted the AFP who executed search warrants in Fairfield and Lidcombe where an alleged additional 1000 litres was found. In a separate matter, a trio from Queensland was charged for their alleged involvement in the importation and possession of about 560kg of cocaine allegedly discovered during a search warrant in a small coastal town of Western Australia in August, 2023. Police alleged the men were Australian members of a transnational criminal syndicate that imported the illicit drugs into WA by sea. AFP Commander Paula Hudson said the AFP’s seizure of 33.7 tonnes of illicit drugs during the past financial year had prevented serious harm to Australians as a result. “Australia sadly remains a lucrative target for transnational serious organised crime and while these criminal syndicates continue to become more sophisticated in their attempts to smuggle harmful drugs into our country, the AFP and our law enforcement partners, remain a step ahead,” Commander Hudson said. “The AFP remains committed and focused on targeting, identifying and disrupting these attempts to import harmful illicit substances into our country, and is dedicated to bringing those responsible to justice. “The increase in the number of seizures at the border, and AFP successful operations across Australia, should also serve as a warning to the criminal syndicates which are trying to bring these illicit drugs into this country. We are watching, we are ready, and we will bring you to justice.” ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff praised the efforts of ABF and AFP officers in 2024. “As the year draws to a close, it’s quite sobering to see these figures and to consider the immense community harm that has been prevented by the dedication and significant efforts of officers in our agencies and law enforcement partners,” Acting Commander Sokoloff said. “We are keenly aware that Australia will continue to be targeted by criminals seeking to profit and cause the community harm, and our clear message is this: Do not attempt to illegally import narcotics. Our highly skilled officers will detect them and you will face the full force of the law as a result.” There were 11,220 Australians hospitalised – the equivalent of over 30 hospitalisations every day in 2021-22 – from methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin consumption. 1 December 2024 Source: AFP

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Sydney man charged with orchestrating 237kg MDMA importation

MDMA

A western Sydney man is expected to face Parramatta Local Court today (16 November, 2024) charged for his alleged role in orchestrating the importation of 237kg of MDMA. The AFP arrested the man, 47, at Sydney International Airport yesterday evening (15 November, 2024) on his return to Australia. The investigation, named Operation Casarabe, began in November 2023 after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted a routine inspection of a shipping container on arrival to Australia from Germany. An examination of the shipment, purporting to be new car parts, revealed 237kg of MDMA concealed within 12 boxes of the consignment. The ABF alerted the AFP, with officers removing the illicit drugs before the consignment was released for delivery under police surveillance. The consignment was delivered to a western Sydney logistics facility on behalf of a company administered by the  man. AFP officers attended the man’s Meadowbank home in November 2023, where he allegedly claimed to have arranged the importation of car parts on behalf of another person. It will be alleged in court that the person nominated was not real and was a manufactured identity. In May 2024, police executed a search warrant at the Meadowbank home. Investigators seized a number of electronic devices which were subject to further forensic examination. It will be alleged the examination of the devices resulted in investigators obtaining evidence to link the man to the 2023 importation, and to the manufactured identity used to arrange it. AFP officers allegedly discovered a concealed compartment within one of the man’s vehicles. Investigators located a dedicated encrypted communications device in this compartment. The AFP will also allege evidence found during the search warrant linked the email address used to coordinate the shipment to the man and to offshore cryptocurrency accounts. AFP investigators arrested the man yesterday (15 November, 2024) on his return to Australia and located and seized about $576,000 in cryptocurrency, suspected to be proceeds of crime.  He was subsequently charged with: One count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely MDMA, contrary to section 307.1(1) by virtue of section 11.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); One count of dealing with suspected proceeds of indictable crime greater than $100,000, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and One count of possess a dedicated encrypted criminal communication device, contrary to subsection 192P(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). AFP Acting Superintendent Stuart Millen said the evidence to support these charges came as a result of a clinical and dedicated investigation. “The lengths this individual allegedly went through to import this insidious substance shows the extremes criminal groups will go to in search of profits,” Det a/Supt Millen said. “Criminals do not care about the harm they cause, and our investigative teams are resolute in bringing those responsible before the courts. “The AFP and partners are committed to protecting the community from the scourge of drugs and to targeting individuals who seek to profit from the illicit trade.” ABF Acting Superintendent Marc Rea said this significant detection could have resulted in the cosmetic drug market being flooded with tens of millions of individual street deals. “ABF officers immediately observed anomalies within the consignment, with the goods not matching the described and declared items. On further inspection, the alleged illicit drugs were uncovered, with the syndicate attempting little to no concealment methods,” a/Supt Rea said. “This shows how criminal syndicates are only interested in profits and have a blatant disregard for our border controls and the harm these drugs pose to the community. “MDMA capsules and tablets are often cut with various other toxic agents and dangerous illicit substances. In such a large quantity could have resulted in tens of thousands of lives being put at risk. “The ABF will continue to work with the AFP and our state and territory law enforcement partners to disrupt the importation of prohibited drugs, in turn working together to target the overall supply and demand chain.” 16 November 2024 Source: AFP

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$80m worth of illicit drugs caught at Sydney and Melbourne airports in 24 hours

Methamphetamine

In a stunning display of law enforcement prowess, Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have dealt a significant blow to international drug syndicates. In a series of coordinated operations, authorities intercepted over 100 kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $80 million. The first incident unfolded at Melbourne Airport, where a 20-year-old and a 33-year-old from the UK were apprehended. Within their luggage, authorities discovered 26 kilograms of cocaine, a seizure that could have flooded Australian streets with a substantial amount of the illicit drug. Just a day later, at Sydney Airport, a 38-year-old UK-Northern Ireland dual national was intercepted. Concealed within packages disguised as Chinese tea, authorities uncovered approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, a potent and highly addictive stimulant. In yet another significant bust, also at Sydney Airport, a 21-year-old NSW woman and a 23-year-old New Zealand woman were arrested. The pair had attempted to smuggle 52 packages containing methamphetamine, each weighing approximately one kilogram. The combined weight of the seized drugs underscores the scale of the operations and the potential harm they could have inflicted on Australian communities. Experts estimate that these seizures prevented hundreds of thousands of individual drug deals, significantly reducing the supply of these harmful substances and mitigating their devastating impact. Graeme Campbell, ABF’s acting commander of travel, emphasized the significance of these arrests. “These arrests send a strong message to those involved in drug trafficking,” he said. “Our law enforcement agencies are vigilant and committed to disrupting these criminal networks and protecting our communities.” This series of busts highlights the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking operations and the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies to stay ahead of the curve. By working together, the AFP and ABF have demonstrated their ability to dismantle transnational drug syndicates and prevent harmful drugs from reaching Australian shores. As the war on drugs continues, these agencies remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the nation. 31 October 2024

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