Five men arrested, tourist deported as ABF busts Asian crime gang allegedly making ‘ice’

Five men have been arrested and one kingpin sent back to Vietnam after the ABF allegedly uncovered an Asian crime gang in Sydney’s west.

One of the five men was arrested in Bankstown over his involvement in an alleged crime gang suspected of planning an ice lab. Picture: Australian Border Force

An alleged organised crime ring bringing the ingredients for ice into the country has been busted operating out of Sydney’s west, with five men arrested and one kingpin sent back to Vietnam after arriving in Australia to facilitate a deal.

Ba Thang Phung, 21, Bac Nghi Le, 26, Chinh Phuoc Tran, 35, Tho Hung Tran, 37, and Ngoc Tam Vu, 45, were arrested when Australian Border Force officials raided a warehouse and several homes in Sydney’s west in September as part of an investigation into the alleged importation of pseudoephedrine – a precursor used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, commonly called “ice”.

Pictures from the day of the arrest show one of the men wearing a fluoro green Australia Post outfit, being handcuffed by officers.

The ABF began investigating the men after allegedly becoming aware of the crime syndicate’s efforts to import the drugs more than 200 times.

A man posing as an Australia Post delivery worker has been one of five arrested over his alleged involvement in an Asian crime gang. Picture: Australian Border Force

It will be alleged the group used what investigators called a “scattergun method”, where the drugs first arrived in parcel lockers, before being moved to another location.

Detectives allege that location was often a warehouse in Wetherill Park.

When the ABF searched that warehouse in mid-September they allegedly seized more than 100kg of pseudoephedrine, several litres of hypophosphorous acid, and other items consistent with the potential establishment of a clandestine laboratory, before arresting the group of five men.

A few days later officers stopped a Vietnamese man as he arrived at Melbourne International Airport, allegedly intending to facilitate the pick-up and delivery of drug consignments, but had his visa immediately cancelled and was put on a plane back home.

ABF Superintendent Brett Totten said the work of investigators had interrupted the alleged crime syndicate’s operations on and off shore.

“This syndicate were allegedly attempting to facilitate the initial stages of domestic methamphetamine manufacture,” Supt Totten said.

“A critical way to stop the manufacture of illicit drugs within Australia is to prevent criminals from getting access to drug precursors in the first place.

The ABF carried out raids in September during which they seized hundreds of packages of alleged precursor drugs. Picture: Australian Border Force

The investigation was led by officers attached to Operation Orcatel. Picture: Australian Border Force

“Precursors pose a large threat as they can be imported and exploited by the criminal actors who have a total disregard for any consequences to their illegal activities.

“Let this be a reminder that the illicit drugs you buy on the street could have any concoction of precursors, illicit drugs and other dangerous substances concealed within them.

“The ABF will continue to work closely with our state and federal counterparts to disrupt and dismantle the importation and distribution of these harmful substances ruining the lives of many in our community.”

Le, 26, was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, supporting a criminal organisation and 10 counts of importing a border controlled precursor.

Phung, 21, Tran, 35, Tran, 37, and Vu, 45, were each charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled precursor and supporting a criminal organisation.

All five men were refused bail and are next due to appear in Parramatta Local Court today (November 21).

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