Operation Phobetor uncovers pseudoephedrine haul

A Sydney man has been arrested after a joint-agency investigation uncovered more than 1100 litres of pseudoephedrine, a drug used to manufacture ice.

The creation of Australia’s own version of the FBI will be announced Monday as police continue to crack down on major organised crime syn­dicates, their encrypted phones and the lavish lives led by their kingpins.

Operation Phobetor – named after the Greek God of nightmares – will see the official coming together of the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission to target major drug importers and other high-level criminals.

The three crime-fighting organisations have regularly worked together for many years, including on high-profile matters, such as the recent capture of alleged drug importer Mostafa Baluch after 16 days on the run.

Operation Phobetor - named after the Greek God of nightmares - will see the official coming together of the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission to target major drug importers and criminals.

But the move to an official operation means resources and information can be more easily shared.

Although Monday’s announcement will mark the official beginning of Phobetor, the recent arrest of a 29-year-old man in Sydney’s west over the alleged importation of 1125 litres of pseudoephedrine – used to manufacture ice – came as a result of the three agencies working together.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said Phobetor would show “crime doesn’t pay”.

“The taskforce will target outlaw motorcycle gangs, triads, cartels, organised criminals and other syndicate members who pose the highest threat to NSW,” Ms Andrews told The Daily Telegraph.

“The Morrison government is serious about proving the adage ‘crime doesn’t pay’.

“Under Operation Phobetor police will have a particular focus on seizing the ill-gotten gains of serious, organised criminals, including cars, houses, cash, and jewellery.

“It will also break open trusted insider networks, crack encrypted communications and track the movement of the proceeds of crime, using new powers for the AFP and ACIC that passed the parliament in August,” she said.

The focus on cracking encrypted phone services such as Ciphr comes off the back of the successful breakthrough with the AN0M app.

“Operation Phobetor will build on the success of ­Operation Ironside, to disrupt, investigate and prosecute criminal networks and their partners,” Police Minister David Elliott said.

NSW Police sources told the Telegraph access to the ACIC’s ability to gather key intelligence on high-profile targets would be one of the biggest benefits of the partnership.

Originally published as Operation Phobetor uncovers pseudoephedrine haul