Four men arrested as part of international drug syndicate smuggling ice from Mexico
MORE than 100kg of ice destined for Sydney and intercepted by Mexican authorities was just the start of an international operation aimed at flooding drugs into the Harbour City, police will allege.
NSW
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AN attempt to import 101 kilograms of ice from Mexico was just the start for Leo Yan Lai Cheung and Dimitrios “Jimmy” Gountounas, who allegedly plotted to import huge quantities of drugs from across three continents.
For eight months, police claim the two believed they were working with a co-conspirator, exchanging unencrypted texts and emails — to an email with the password Colombia17 — about plans to bring cocaine in from Colombia and Brazil, as well as drugs from South-East Asia and India.
But according to court documents the co-conspirator was an undercover police operative, who along with agents from the Australiana Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Mexican and South Australian police and the USA’s fearsome DEA, thwarted the drug ring’s alleged plans.
It’s understood that the drugs are from Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel.
Police swooped on the alleged ringleaders Cheung and Gountounas, along with two men who allegedly collected the drugs and a woman on Thursday.
The street value of the 101 kilograms of ice is understood to be $50 million, with the planned importation of cocaine worth $150 million.
Organised Crime Squad boss Detective Superintendent Scott Cook said it showed how Australia is a part of a global organised crime marketplace.
“This is another example of how Australians, who are the principals in a conspiracy, are able to tap into the world supply.”
Police will allege in court that Adelaide-based Gountounas and Epping man Cheung had worked with an overseas drug syndicate for over a year, but wanted to establish their own.
They met with the undercover operative in March, and over a period of months, discussed the logistics of him bringing in the drugs.
“Somewhere in South America, that’s obviously the easiest,” Gountounas allegedly told the police operative in a conversation at a North Shore bar in June.
In September, the undercover officer went to Mexico City where he met “Peter”, a Mexican contact of Cheung’s, to collect five suitcases containing 101kg of methamphetamine, according to court documents.
The drugs were intercepted by Mexican authorities, and the ice — which they planned to sell for $80,000 per kilo — was swapped for 101kg of salt.
Police will allege that the attempted drug run, which saw Adelaide men Cameron Fraser and Jason Kuerschnaer and a woman arrested, was a test for the man.
Next, they planned to import 500kg of cocaine from Colombia.
“What we want is a long-term relationship,” Gountounas allegedly told the undercover police operative.
Police yesterday confirmed there was no connection between the men and Cassie Sainsbury, who is serving six years in Bogota after being caught with the comparatively small amount of 5kg of cocaine.
The “drugs”, which police claim were bound for Sydney, arrived in Australia via container ship late week.
In a police interview on Thursday, Fraser claimed he was paid $15,000 to fly to Sydney to deliver the drugs.
Along with fellow South Australian Kuerschnaer, police will allege that the duo met a man in the city in a van containing what was believed to be 101kg of methamphetamine.
In what could have been the only sophisticated point in the bungled importation, they exchanged a particular $5 note before the two accused allegedly took the van to the Novotel in Darling Harbour.
Moments before the duo were arrested, they were offered assistance by the hotel clerk with the bags which they believed to contain ice.
“Do you need a hand with your bags ... no we f**king don’t. Thank you very much,” Kuerschner laughingly said.
Cheung and Gountounas were charged with two counts of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
The pair who allegedly collected the drugs, Fraser and, Kuerschner, were charged with one count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and large commercial drug supply.
A 36-year-old woman was charged with trafficking a controlled drug and granted bail to appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court in December.
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court, Gountounas did not apply for bail on Friday. NSW Police are expected to apply for his extradition on Monday.
The other three men also did not apply for bail in Central Local Court.
