$100m laundered through Sydney casino led to cocaine bust: Police

A cross-continent investigation which led to a $900m drugs bust began when NSW police were alerted to a man who allegedly put $100m through the pokies.

One of three men arrested over a record-breaking cocaine sting allegedly laundered $100 million in cash through a Sydney casino in one week.

Three tonnes of cocaine en route to Australia has been seized over the past eight months in an investigation that culminated in three arrests on Thursday.

The huge drug haul, with a street value of $900 million, was the equivalent of a year’s worth of cocaine use for the entire population of NSW, State Crime Commander Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.

One of three men arrested allegedly laundered $100m through pokies at the Star.

“The (National Drug Strategy Household Survey) indicated about 14.1 per cent of Australians use illicit prohibited drugs,” he said.

“Around 4.2 per cent use cocaine. This interdiction, three tonnes of cocaine, is the equivalent of a year’s worth of cocaine use for the entire NSW population over a period of a year.”

For more than a year, Strike Force Jillabenan has been discreetly investigating a plan to import three tonnes of cocaine into Australia from North and South America.

The investigation began when police were alerted to a man spending huge amounts of money on pokie machines at Star Casino in Pyrmont.

“We saw transactional amounts in excess of $100 million in one week,” Mr Smith said.

“His profile allowed us to zero in on financial transactions and link him with other syndicate members internationally.”

A man arrested at Lake Macquarie.

Working with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the US Navy, authorities intercepted two fast boats with 870kg of cocaine on board off the coast of Columbia last October.

Then in April, acting on a tip from NSW Police, the US Coast Guard seized another 900kg from a boat off the coast of Ecuador.

It is alleged the drugs were part of a wider conspiracy to import three tonnes of cocaine into Australia.

Replicating the packaging the cocaine was meant to arrive in, investigators placed the bogus drug shipment in a warehouse in Lake Macquarie and waited.

On Thursday, police arrested 42-year-old Mende Trajkoski when he arrived at the warehouse.

In a car park nearby, police arrested Nikolao Misa, 37.

A boat containing the real drugs, off the coast of Columbia.

It is understood police will allege Trajkoski, who previously worked for a cargo company at Sydney Airport, was the man they identified at Star Casino.

Both men were charged with drug supply offences.

Misa made a bid for bail in Newcastle Local Court on Friday.

Lawyer George McCarley told the court Misa had only one offence on his criminal record, and could stay with his parents at Rockdale.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Will Sommers opposed bail and said the case against Misa was “very strong”.

“The penalty that would be imposed if he was convicted … carries life imprisonment,” Sgt Sommers said.

“A large commercial quantity is just one kilogram and he has 25 times that quantity … as part of a syndicate that had four tonnes of cocaine.”

Misa’s bail application was refused and he did not enter a plea.

Trajkoski made no attempt at bail and did not enter a plea as he appeared in the same court.

Both men will next appear in Central Local Court on June 18.

Police also carried out six raids at properties around Sydney, including Paddington, Rockdale and Sans Souci on Thursday.

At San Souci, 58-year-old Gjelosh Nikollaj, was arrested over his role in the alleged cocaine plot.

He was charged with conspiracy to supply drugs and participate in a criminal group.

The real packaged cocaine before it was swapped out.

Mr Smith said two of the men came across the police radar in 2018 for their involvement in the cargo industry.

“But not until last year’s operation did we move in and identify their involvement with each other,” he said.

Nikollaj did not appear in Parramatta Local Court on Friday morning when his case was mentioned.

His lawyer Daniel Cacaj asked for an adjournment to June 18 at Central Local Court.

Australia has one of the most lucrative drug markets in the world due to its isolation, high demand and inflated prices.

“It’s a very lucrative business,” Mr Smith said.

“The farmers in Columbia get about two bucks a day, the cartels are making $3.80 a gram and by the time it’s gone through international syndicate’s hands and hits the streets of Sydney it is worth $400 a gram.”