Wearing hi-vis vests, carrying toolboxes and wrangling massive amounts of commercial plastic, they looked like normal tradies.
But police say that Tung Huu Bui, Watcharaphong Aphichotnithithon and Sutthichai Torthititham were in fact “high level” organised crime figures responsible for the importation and failed distribution of more than 80 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Nine pallets of ice were allegedly imported into Australia.Credit: Police Media
“What we have learnt about this syndicate is they were well organised and capable of importing prohibited drugs and dismantling their consignments, [and] moving the product between states,” drug and firearms squad Commander Detective Superintendent John Watson told reporters on Friday.
The group’s alleged modus operandi was simple: nine large pallets, each containing a 50-kilogram roll of commercial plastic, were imported to Sydney. Allegedly concealed inside each wrap were varying amounts of ice.
“Think of it as almost pasta making, but it’s illegal.”
Large tool boxes, the type seen on construction sites across the country, were fitted with false bottoms and used to move drugs and conceal money.
Investigators allegedly confiscated firearms as well as 80 kilograms of ice and $1.7 million.Credit: Police Media
“Narcotics were secured and transported almost in plain sight. It was crude but effective.
“They kept it simple, they kept it clean. They were able to do things in a very quick fashion and that became their [alleged] undoing,” Watson said.
Bui, 36, and Aphichotnithithon, 41, were arrested in Petersham and Sydney on Wednesday evening.
Bui was charged with importing a commercial quantity of ice and supplying more than large commercial quantity of the same.
Commercial grade plastic was allegedly used to conceal the ice.Credit: Police Media
Aphichotnithithon was charged with importing a commercial quantity of ice, supplying more than a large commercial quantity of ice, two counts of using an offensive weapon to prevent detention and assaulting a police officer.
Both appeared in court on Thursday and were refused bail. They will remain behind bars until their next appearance in November.
Co-ordinated midnight raids across Tempe, St Peters, Petersham, Waterloo and Kingsgrove on Thursday led to the destruction of a clandestine laboratory capable of producing ice, the seizure of $1.7 million in cash. Torthititham, 37, was arrested at the Tempe address.
Torthititham was charged with allowing his property to be used as a drug premises and two counts of supplying more than an indictable amount of ice.
He was refused bail and will next appear in Newtown Local Court this month.
Police allege the three were the main players in the syndicate, which is not connected to any other organised crime networks.
“Those who were arrested were high-level players, they were directors ... at the highest level,” he said.
Two men have also been arrested in the Perth suburb of Malaga, and will face court on Friday.
Investigators have seized seven kilograms of ice, more than $250,000 in cash, watches and jewellery valued at about $150,000 and a small amount of cocaine from a storage unit in the city.
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