Joseph Toma, 21, arrested at Melbourne Airport after AFP busted cocaine, meth ring last year

An “key member” in a multimillion-dollar, cross-border drug running operation handed himself in to Federal Police on Monday after leaving the country when his mates were arrested last year.

Four men have now been charged for allegedly possessing and trafficking more than 55kg of illicit, drugs hidden in secret compartments within a number of vehicles transported between NSW and Victoria. Picture: Australian Federal Police

An “key member” in a multimillion-dollar, cross-border drug running operation handed himself in to Federal Police on Monday after leaving the country when his mates were arrested last year.

Joseph Toma, 21, of Greenfield Park, NSW, was arrested at Tullamarine Airport on Tuesday morning after he returned from overseas.

He faced a brief court hearing on Tuesday, charged with trafficking and commercial quantities of drugs, and dealing with more than $1m suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Mr Toma became the fourth co-accused in the alleged drug ring, alongside top Melbourne futsal player Nineph Israel, 24, of Craigieburn, Marcos Kadon, 21, of Maribyrnong, and Jaycob Secchi, 24, of Niddrie.

Nineph Israel, 24, of Craigieburn, was one of four men arrested. Picture: Supplied

Drugs were hidden in secret compartments within a number of vehicles transported between NSW and, Victoria. picture: Australian Federal Police

Mr Israel, Mr Kadon and Mr Secchi’s lawyer Rob Melasecca, on Tuesday said Toma had previously left the country but returned to Australia on Monday to surrender himself to Federal Police.

Mr Melasecca said Mr Israel, Mr Kadon and Mr Secchi were ready to plead guilty the most significant charges laid by prosecutors, relating to the importing and trafficking of large commercial quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, but he said Commonwealth prosecutors had not properly responded to a detailed letter regarding the precise details of each man’s involvement in the case.

Recently arrested Mr Toma is yet to indicate how he will plead, and his alleged involvement in the operation has not been aired publicly in court.

Mr Toma’s arrest is likely to delay court proceedings for at least two months.

A fourth man, Joseph Toma, 21, of Greenfield Park, NSW, has been charged over the alleged drug ring. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Police allege the drug running operation involved a sophisticated drug running operation in which large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine were ferried between New South Wales and Victoria in vehicles specially modified with hidden drug compartments.

A series of raids in June uncovered a total of 27kg of cocaine, 3kg of MDMA, 25kg of meth, more than $1m of cash and two loaded guns.

The combined street value of the drugs was estimated at more than $11m.

The court on Tuesday heard the police summary of allegations against the alleged drug syndicate runs to more than 130 pages, but parts of it were “hotly contested”.

One of the hidden compartments in which drugs were found. Picture: Australian Federal Police

An AFP officer inspects a secret compartment in a vehicle linked to the syndicate. Picture: Australian Federal Police

AFP detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said drug traffickers were motivated by greed and did not care about the harm they caused to Australian communities.

“Criminals involved in drug trafficking create a national security risk,” Det Supt Butcher said.

“They attempt to corrupt logistics workers to aid their supply chains, they launder illegal wealth through the Australian financial system, and they use the proceeds of drug trafficking to fund other illegal activity.

“The illicit drugs seized during this investigation had the potential to facilitate more than 37,500 individual street deals and could have put $11 million in the pockets of criminals.

“Complex investigations can last up to months or years, and I’d like to thank our investigators for their unwavering commitment and dedication which has been crucial to the success of this

investigation.

“The AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to protect Australians from illicit drugs and

disrupt criminal organisations that exploit our communities.”

The four men return to court in May.