Cairns crime: Alleged Mareeba cocaine smuggling committal hearing told of fake identities

Australian Federal Police had members of an alleged cocaine smuggling syndicate on the radar for some time before the ill-fated attempt to fly a large haul of cocaine into Mareeba.

FOUR men allegedly behind a failed 549kg cocaine import were on the radar of Australian Federal Police for some time before the cocaine-laden plane crashed in Papua New Guinea on July 26, 2020.

It was due to arrive at Mareeba airport, where there is no air control and self-service refuelling.

Cairns Magistrates Court heard on Friday that AFP officer Terry Sanders was called to Sydney International Airport where Salvatore Formica, 34, one of the four men facing charges, had allegedly presented a fraudulent driver’s licence.

Police have alleged syndicate members had multiple fake identities.

Officer Sanders said Mr Formica was not arrested because further inquiries needed to be made.

Earlier, the court heard the Cessna twin engine that pilot David Cutmore flew from Mareeba to PNG to pick up the drugs was not airworthy.

Cocaine found hidden in mangroves at Lea Lea village in PNG. A committal hearing is under way at Cairns Magistrates Court for Melbourne quartet Salvatore Formica, 34, Pierino Forni, 62, Aiden Anis Khoder, 32 and George Machem, 32 who are facing charges in relation to an alleged bid to import 549kg of cocaine from PNG to Mareeba. Picture: AFP.

Commonwealth prosecutor Daniel Caruana told Magistrate Kevin Priestly on day five of the committal hearing that fresh bench charges would be presented for Pierino Forni, 62 and George Machem, 32, and new bail undertakings would have to be signed by the defendants.

Mr Forni, who has kept a low profile during the committal, is charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine.

He was granted bail with strict conditions including wearing an ankle bracelet, reporting daily to police, a $1m surety and a night curfew.

Police have alleged in court documents that Mr Formica “has been an active member of a transnational organised criminal syndicate alleged to be the Ndrangheta” which “has majority control of international cocaine trafficking”.

A committal hearing is underway at Cairns Magistrates Court for Melbourne quartet Salvatore Formica, 34, Pierino Forni, 62, Aiden Anis Khoder, 32 and George Machem, 32, pictured, who are facing charges in relation to an alleged bid to import 549kg of cocaine from PNG to Mareeba. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

Mr Formica is charged with two counts of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Mr Machem is charged with supporting a criminal organisation and conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Mr Khoder is charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine.

It is alleged the syndicate successfully imported 400kg of cocaine worth $90m from PNG to Mareeba in between July 24, 2018, and August 30, 2018 before their ill-fated repeat attempt in July 2020.

The first part of the committal hearing is expected to finish about next Thursday.

But there will be a second committal hearing at a later date in what promises to be a marathon legal process with about 37 witnesses.

Three PNG nationals, Australian pilot David Cutmore, who is not facing any charges in Australia, and the Italian skipper of a yacht were arrested in PNG.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Alleged Mareeba cocaine smuggling committal hearing told of fake identities