Media Release: International cocaine syndicate dismantled

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police (AFP) on December 2 arrested six men in Sydney as part of an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into Australia.

Four of the men were charged with conspiring to import two shipments of cocaine, estimated to contain 500 kilograms and 190 kilograms of the drug, respectively. The cocaine has not arrived in Australia, and it will be alleged in court that the men planned for the shipments to transit through Tonga.

The AFP received significant assistance from the Tongan Police Force in regard to this 12-month-long investigation. Tongan police on December 2 executed five search warrants in support of this investigation.

In addition to the four men charged for conspiring to import cocaine, a 41-year-old Roseberry man was on December 2 charged for his role in assisting the importation of 1.5 kilograms of cocaine on 24 August, 2010.

The cocaine was detected by Customs and Border Protection after being hidden inside the lining of the baggage and clothes of a 45-year-old Spanish woman arriving at Sydney International Airport from Buenos Aires.

AFP members yesterday executed eight search warrants in the Sydney suburbs of Roseberry, Hurstville, Eastlakes, Alexandria, Dulwich Hill, Chester Hill, Coogee and Rockdale.

During these warrants, approximately 100 grams of cocaine was found in the car of a 29-year-old man. He was also charged with one count of possess a prohibited drug reasonably suspected of being imported into Australia and one charge of supply a prohibited drug, contrary to Section 25 of the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act 1995.

Australian Federal Police Manager Sydney Office, Commander David Stewart said cooperation with overseas partner law enforcement agencies and the targeting of criminal groups with transnational links is vital to preventing hundreds of kilograms of drugs from reaching Australian streets.

"This lengthy and complex investigation has highlighted our commitment to dismantle organised criminal groups which attempt large-scale importations of dangerous drugs."

A 54-year-old Hurstville man, 53-year-old Chester Hill man, 51-year-old Rockdale man and a 48-year-old Coogee man have been charged with two counts of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of cocaine, contrary to subsection 11.5(1) and 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995.

The 54-year-old Hurstville man has also been charged with two charges to import a substance being a border controlled drug, namely cocaine and the quantity imported being a marketable quantity contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code 1995.

The 41-year-old Roseberry man has been charged with aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring the importation of a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.2 of section 11.2 of the Criminal Code 1995.

The Rockdale and Coogee men appeared before Sydney Central Local Court on December 2 and were remanded in custody to appear before 15 December 2010.

The remaining men are scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court on December 3. - Australian Federal Police National Media Team. Friday, December 3, 2010.