Steven Elmir extradited to Sydney to face drug import allegations
An alleged major player in a 2017 drug and tobacco importation plot has been brought back to Sydney to face court two years after being arrested by AFP in Dubai along with Ibrahim brothers Michael and Fadi.
NSW
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One of the alleged major players in a 2017 drug and tobacco importation plot has finally been brought back to Sydney to face court two years after being arrested by Australia Federal Police in Dubai along with Ibrahim brothers Michael and Fadi.
Steven Fawaz Elmir arrived in Sydney under AFP guard on Thursday to face allegations he was involved in the major conspiracy to import drugs. He is due to front Central Local Court today.
Elmir, 33, has spent more than two years in custody in Dubai. He was one of many arrested under Operation Veyda.
Operation Veyda was an AFP-led investigation that began in 2016 with assistance from NSW Police, resulting in the arrest of 18 people, the seizure of more than 1.9 tonnes of narcotics (MDMA, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine) and the dismantling of two interconnected organised crime syndicates operating across Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands.
The AFP will allege Elmir, the then 30-year-old Picnic Point man, was part of an organised crime syndicate arranging for the attempted importation of border-controlled drugs in cargo container shipments into Australia.
He is facing three counts of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and three counts of attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
AFP organised crime commander Kirsty Schofield said Elmir’s extradition sent a clear message to alleged members of organised criminal groups that they were not out of reach no matter how far away they operated
“The AFP maintains strong working relationships with international law enforcement partners to tackle transnational organised crime,” Commander Schofield said.
“We know the crippling effect illegal drugs, including MDMA, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine have on our communities. Stopping these drugs from entering our shores is a high priority for the AFP.
“The AFP and its international law enforcement partners, including its Emirati policing partner will continue to create a hostile environment for organised crime groups to ensure these harmful drugs do not reach our communities.”
One of the other men arrested under Operation Veyda, Hakan Arif, fled Dubai after getting bail and is believed to have been hiding out in Turkey.
Fadi Ibrahim has only been charged in relation to illicit tobacco importation and has pleaded not guilty.
Michael Ibrahim has pleaded guilty to conspiring to import drugs.