AFP crush interstate drug ring after seizing cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine in raids
Federal police say a criminal syndicate has been crushed after officers discovered drugs worth an estimated $11 million inside properties and trucks across NSW and Victoria. See the photos.
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An alleged interstate drug syndicate has been smashed after federal police seized more than 50kg of drugs — with a street value of more than $11 million — inside properties and trucks across NSW and Victoria.
Federal police will allege the group, a NSW man and two men from Victoria, are part of a criminal syndicate which moved cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine within secret compartments in trucks between Sydney and Melbourne.
The men allegedly used purpose-built hides, located in the rear seat area of Toyota Camry sedans, to conceal and transport the illicit drugs and more than $1 million of criminal proceeds.
The Australian Federal Police combined with Victoria Police searched properties in Deer Park, Niddrie and Maribyrnong, as well as a truck in Wagga Wagga.
About 22kg of cocaine, 3kg of MDMA, 1kg of methamphetamine, a quantity of cash, and two loaded firearms were seized.
The AFP arrested a 23-year-old Niddrie man at Deer Park and a 20-year-old man from NSW at Maribyrnong.
The men were each charged with one count of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug and one count of possessing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug that is reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported.
The Niddrie man was also charged with one count of possess a traffickable quantity of firearms.
Less than a week later, officers identified a third man allegedly linked to the organised crime syndicate and searched a property at Craigieburn.
Investigators seized various electronic devices for further forensic analysis and arrested a 23-year-old man.
The AFP will allege the man was responsible for 25kg of methamphetamine, 5kg of cocaine and more than $1 million of suspected criminal proceeds located and seized in the flooring of a van at Airport West on May 16.
He was charged with two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug, two counts of possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drug that is reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported and dealing with money or property believed to be proceeds of crime, and at the time of dealing the value of the money or property was $1 million or more.
All three men will appear in court in October, each facing maximum penalties of life in prison.
AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said the vehicles were modified with secret compartments to conceal the drugs.
“Organised criminal syndicates will continue to evolve and devise creative new concealment methods to avoid detection from law enforcement,” Det. Supt Butcher said.
“Our message to criminals is clear: your efforts will fail and the AFP is always one step ahead of your plans.
“I would like to thank the AFP officers involved in the investigation and highlight their relentless efforts to disrupt criminal syndicates causing Australians immense harm through the vile drug trade.
“The amount of illicit drugs seized from this syndicate had an estimated street value of more than $11 million and had the potential to facilitate more than 37,500 individual street deals, if it had reached Australian streets.”
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