AFP documents reveal diplomatic pouch cocaine pipeline from Colombia to Australia
Millions of dollars of cocaine was successfully smuggled into Australia through clever fakes from Colombia – some destined for Adelaide.
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Millions of dollars of cocaine was successfully smuggled into Australia hidden as diplomatic mail before encrypted messages led to the flow of drugs being cut off, new documents reveal.
A South Australian man – who went by the handle “100” – was allegedly involved in the scheme with newly released photos of the packages appearing to show an address in Adelaide.
On May 25, 2020, an intricately wrapped package arrived at Sydney Airport from Bogota.
Australian Border Force personnel had been alerted to the arrival of the package by the Department of Home Affairs, who had themselves been notified by Australian Federal Police.
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The package was wrapped in black plastic and encased in tape marked Valise Diplomatique Francaise.
A layer down, the cardboard box was also marked with Diplomatique Francaise with official ribbons and wax seals. Photos of the box show it was marked “Caution – Diplomatic Bag – Do Not Open, Detain or Delay”.
Inside the box was 2.5kg of cocaine with a street value of more than a million dollars.
Communications sent over the compromised AN0M platform showed members of the syndicate discussing the method of importation and confirming it had been successful before.
“(Lawfully obtained information) suggested that the quantity of cocaine being smuggled was two kilograms at a time with the planned frequency of future packages sent being two times a week,” AFP documents reveal.
“The intention of the group was to continue with this method and to source names and addresses to receive the packages.”
AFP intelligence documents from September 2020 show that investigations revealed the method of importing the drug had been successful on several occasions before the package was seized.
“Investigations show that this modus operandi had been used multiple times previously,” the documents state.
“No further packages matching this concealment method have been detected.”
Messages discussing the importation released by the FBI in June 2021 alleged that Baris Tukel – who went by the handle “Brian” – referred to the cocaine as “building blocks”.
“There is 2kg put inside French diplomatic sealed envelopes out of Bogotta [sic],” he allegedly wrote.
“They have already got a few packages in.
“Only issue is that COL takes 50/4 Partners including yourself will need to split other 50.”
Tukel, an Australian citizen, is currently believed to be in Turkey and operating as part of drug kingpin Hakan Ayik’s larger organised crime web.
Two other men with the user names “cheto” and “Hippy” are alleged to have been involved in the import.
No arrests have been made over the seized import.
As part of Operation Ironside, Australian Federal Police were required to apply for Major Controlled Operations authorities which allow them to enable criminal activities.
In order to keep these authorities up to date, the investigating officers lodged requests for extensions which included updates on ongoing investigations.
Those documents were tendered in the Operation Ironside “Test case” being run by Justice Adam Kimber in the SA Supreme Court.
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