Brisbane Airport bust: Qld man Grafton Kaifoto’s alleged plot to traffic gun parts
A Queensland man has allegedly been busted importing hundreds of Glock-styled firearm parts – disguised in toys – into Brisbane, the Australian Federal Police have alleged.
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A Queensland man allegedly imported hundreds of Glock-styled firearm parts – disguised in remote control car parts – that he planned to assemble and sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Australian Federal Police have alleged.
Grafton Kaifoto, 34, was stopped at the Brisbane International Airport on June 26, after arriving from the United States.
The Australian Border Force said they found the Joyner man was travelling with nine small pieces of paper which had consignment details for nine packages.
The gun parts bought and sent from the United States were later seized in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with authorities alleging the man was planning to sell each assembled firearm for up to $20,000 each.
“Information obtained by the AFP allegedly outlined a plot to import the parts that would make up more than 30 Glock-style handguns,” AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said on Friday.
ABF acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said Kaifoto had been flagged as a person of interest on their systems after officers found 800g of cocaine on June 19.
Authorities believe he was offshore at the time.
“Officers from our air cargo area here in Brisbane were deployed to examine a consignment that had arrived from Italy, declared as decorative mugs,” he said.
“During that examination our officers found the boxes the mugs were contained in, felt slightly overweight.
“They then began to carefully deconstruct it and found 800g of cocaine.
“On June 26 one of those persons of interest arrived in Brisbane from Los Angeles. They were subject to a comprehensive baggage exam, and during that exam our officers located nine small pieces of paper.
“These items were consignment notes for shipments from the United States to various locations throughout Australia.”
Kaifoto has been charged with nine counts of attempting to traffic in firearm parts, contrary to sections 11.1 and 361.2 of the Criminal Code.
He was charged on June 27 and appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court and granted conditional bail.
Kaifoto’s matter was briefly mentioned at Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 18.
He was represented by Lillian Barker of Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors, who asked the matter be adjourned for a full brief of evidence to be ordered.
The matter was adjourned to September 19 and Kaifoto’s bail was enlarged.
Det Supt Telfer said the AFP was investigating where the man intended to sell the firearms. He said police were investigating the man’s background and if he was part of a wider syndicate.
He said the Kaifoto had not been charged in relation to the cocaine.
“We will allege those packages contained hundreds of individual weapon parts and if the were assembled could have created 30-Glock style handguns,” Det Supt Telfer said.
“Our successful joint operation has prevented dozens of firearms entering the black market.”
Mr Copeman alleged: “This attempt was methodical, it was calculated, it was sophisticated, but we saw right through it.”
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