AFP charge Brisbane woman with allegedly facilitating $15M meth flight from PNG to Qld

A Queensland woman has been charged with allegedly facilitating a black flight loaded with $15 million of methamphetamine into the country from Papua New Guinea.

A Queensland woman has been charged with allegedly facilitating a black flight loaded with $15 million of methamphetamine into the country from Papua New Guinea.

The 41-year-old Rochedale woman was arrested and charged on Tuesday, following the arrest of six men in Australia and eight in Papua New Guinea last year who are alleged to be members of an international drug syndicate.

Police pounced on some of the men - including pilot and co-pilot - when their light plane touched down in Monto, two hours west of Bundaberg, after flying from Bulolo at low altitude with the plane’s transponder turned off.

Five Sydney men allegedly flew a flight to Papua New Guinea to pick up a massive haul of meth before being arrested when they landed in Monto. Picture: AFP

It is alleged the plane, which concealed five duffle bags full of more than 71kg of meth, was destined for New South Wales, but landed in Monto to refuel.

Australian Federal Police will allege the woman, who is the owner and director of a logistics company in Papua New Guinea, facilitated the drug importation.

It will be alleged she stored the meth, bought the bags for its transportation, and paid for the fuel and runway used in Bulolo.

Police searched her home on Tuesday and seized electronic devices and financial records.

The woman was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of meth, and one count of dealing with proceeds of crime, money or property worth $10,000 or more.

Australian Federal Police arrest the woman who allegedly facilitated the fight.

AFP Commander Investigations Eastern Command Kate Ferry said the arrest was a testament to the diligent and relentless work by officers.

“Criminals will go to great, and often dangerous, lengths to get drugs into Australia,” Ms Ferry said.

“The AFP will continue to pursue organised crime groups no matter what state or country they operate in, or how long it takes. Methamphetamine is an insidious drug that has ripple effects on the user, their loved ones and the wider community. This importation had an estimated street value of more than $15 million.”

Police will allege the stealth flight began its journey from Wilton, a rural town an hour south west of Sydney, on March 20 last year.

More than $15 million in meth was located inside the plane. Picture: AFP

Bernard Hamilton Alexander, a 51-year-old pilot from Fairy Meadow, and his co-pilot, 52-year-old Tahmoor man John Horvath, flew the plane to Monto, where a truck carrying hundreds of litres of aviation fuel was waiting at the remote air strip.

The tank of fuel had allegedly been brought in with the help of 54-year-old Newcastle man Peter David Payne.

After refuelling, the pilot and co-pilot allegedly took off under the cover of darkness, landing in Bulolo, 250km northwest of Port Moresby.

In PNG, the men were watched by the local constabulary as they allegedly loaded the nose of the light plane with meth stuffed into five large duffel bags.

The men were arrested after landing back in Monto and had allegedly planned to fly the plane back into NSW.

The AFP will allege the three accomplices, 40-year-old Wilton man Mark Brian Pracy, 40-year-old Nathan Bailey, of no fixed address, and Payne acted as a “ground crew”, basing themselves in Queensland since February.

Police will allege Pracy was the “main facilitator” of the drug importation and was working on behalf of “other people funding” the mission.

Investigations into how the drugs entered PNG remain ongoing.