Western Sydney trio arrested over alleged $135m ice importation

Two months after an alleged syndicate member was arrested in Sydney in connection with a $135m ice importation, three more men have been arrested.

Three western Sydney men have been charged over their alleged involvement in a drug syndicate’s smuggling of ice with an estimated street value of $135 million into Australia.

The trio were busted two months after another alleged syndicate member was arrested in Sydney as part of an Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force investigation launched late last year from Melbourne.

Police are continuing investigations into the involvement of others – both in Australia

and overseas – with further arrests possible.

It will be alleged the Sydney-based group set up fake companies using fraudulent

identification to import illicit drugs in an air cargo consignment from Malaysia.

Border Force officers found 180kg of methamphetamine when they searched a consignment of refrigerated air dryers, which arrived in Sydney from Malaysia in September this year.

Each of the nine metal units allegedly held 20 vacuum sealed packets, each containing about one kilogram of a white crystalline substance that tested positive to methamphetamine.

The first alleged syndicate member was arrested after AFP officers traced the consignment to an address in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria.

Authorities seized 180kg worth of meth in September raids. Picture: Australian Federal Police

A search warrant was executed at a residence in Chipping Norton before a 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely methamphetamine.

A phone and fraudulent documents allegedly used to plan the importation and an estimated $250,000 in cash were also seized during the search.

On November 24, investigators executed search warrants at the homes of three

other alleged syndicate members where police allegedly unearthed fraudulent identity documents, mobile telephones, two firearms, ammunition and a ballistic vest.

The three men, aged 20, 25 and 30, were each charged in relation to the importation of

commercial quantities of drugs.

Police will allege the trio, and the man arrested previously, worked together to create the false

companies and documents that were later used to import the methamphetamine.

The men later arranged the collection of the methamphetamine from a freight forwarder in

Alexandria for later distribution.

A weapon and bullets were seized. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Some of the drugs seized. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The 20-year-old Gregory Hills man will face a series of charges, including importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs, dealing in the proceeds of crime worth $10,000 or more and possessing a prohibited pistol without permit.

A 30-year-old from Chipping Norton has been charged with importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs, attempting to possess commercial quantities of border controlled drugs, dealing in proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more and possessing a prohibited pistol without permit.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.

The three men faced Sydney Downing Centre on November 25 and were all remanded in

custody.

The trio are expected back in court next year.

The fourth syndicate member also remains in custody and is next expected to appear in court on December 8.

Authorities dismantled an alleged drug syndicate smuggling methamphetamine into Australia. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The offence of importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs carries a maximum

penalty of life imprisonment.

The latest arrests were the culmination of an investigation launched by organised crime investigators based at the AFP’s Southern Command in Melbourne.

Its Commander of Investigations, Commander Todd Hunter, said the arrests showed COVID-19 border restrictions had not prevented criminal groups from trying to bring illicit drugs into Australia.

“Sadly Australians are among the highest per capita users of methamphetamines and criminals

will prey on that demand to make a profit,” he said.

“Now, that greed is likely to end in long-term prison sentences.”

ABF Port Operations East Commander Danielle Yannopoulos said the ABF was committed to

stopping harmful drugs reaching the Australian community.

“Methamphetamine destroys lives,” she said.

“This operation shows that regardless of which city the drugs are imported to, or how well

they are concealed, the ABF will detect and seize them.”