Arrests in Victoria, Queensland over plot to smuggle 186kg of cocaine
UPDATE: POLICE are analysing hundreds of phone intercepts linked to an alleged 186kg cocaine haul, as four men faced court amid six fresh arrests in Victoria and Queensland.
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FOUR men have appeared in court over a massive cocaine shipment intercepted by border police.
Mohamed Kaddour, 47, Youssif Tawfik, 25, Christopher Peroulis, 49 and Omer Tok, 39, sat in silence during a brief filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
The court heard police needed to analyse hundreds of phone intercepts before they could compile a brief of evidence against the men.
None of the accused applied for bail and were each remanded in custody to reappear in court in May.
The court heard the men suffered from a variety of ailments ranging from an injured back to diabetes.
The court appearance follows police arresting six more men as part of an ongoing investigation into a cocaine importation plot.
The men were arrested in Melbourne and Queensland this morning.
It is part of the same joint Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, probe which saw ten Chinese men charged last month with trying to smuggle 186kg of cocaine with an estimated value of more than $60 million.
Australian Border Force Regional Commander Victoria and Tasmania James Watson, said the organisation provided both onshore and maritime support, including ongoing intelligence, specialist ship search capabilities and on-the-ground-support in the lead up to, and during this morning’s arrests.
“This operation led to the seizure of approximately 186kg of cocaine and the arrest of 16 people (nine Chinese nationals and one Singaporean who were arrested in Hobart before Christmas, and six Australian men who were arrested in Melbourne this morning),” he said.
“Importantly, the cocaine was seized before it crossed our border; before it could make its way into the community.
“The cocaine will now be destroyed, which means it cannot cause harm to our community and the people behind the attempted import will not profit from this hideous trade.
“This operation highlights the continued co-operation among domestic and international law enforcement agencies.
“By sharing intelligence and capabilities with our partners, the ABF is able to better target, detect and seize illicit drugs at our border before they reach the Australian community.”
Those arrested last week were aged between 23 and 50 and apprehended after their 50-metre vessel was escorted into Hobart following a lengthy investigation at sea involving the military and border force.
A search of the boat, a former research vessel, took days before Tasmania Police assistant commissioner Glenn Frame revealed a haul worth about $60.45 million had been uncovered.
“Authorities located approximately 186kg of the suspicious substance, which had been compressed into bricks and wrapped in plastic,” Mr Frame said.
“Forensic testing has indicated the substance is cocaine, and further analysis will be conducted to determine the exact weight and purity.”
The boat was first detected in international waters off Western Australia and was tracked south where suspicions were raised further as it started circling.
Border force personnel boarded the boat which was subsequently escorted by the navy’s HMAS Adelaide into Hobart.
“The investigation into the origin and destination of the drugs is continuing, however it is unlikely that a criminal venture of this nature would target the small Tasmanian market,” Mr Frame said.
Each of the crew has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of cocaine, an offence which police said carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
They remain in custody following a series of brief court appearances.