Customs broker couple may have been used as pawns
The flashy couple allegedly involved in a billion-dollar drug plot may have used their customs expertise to modify data about the cargo, amid fears they were used as pawns by serious organised criminals.
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Customs brokers who allegedly helped a South-East Asian crime syndicate import more than $1 billion of ice into the country are believed to have tried to make the cargo “disappear” via elaborate paperwork.
Rachel Cachia and Donovan Rodrigues have been charged over the record haul of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin.
One possibility police are investigating is whether the couple, who worked as customs brokers, used their expertise of the imports and exports industry to modify data about the container.
The couple happily showed off their wealth in posts on social media.
Investigators believe the couple, who were charged along with their friend Stephen Mizzi on Thursday following Australian Federal Police (AFP) raids the day before, were used as pawns by serious organised criminals.
Customs brokers have long been attractive to organised crime figures for the knowledge and access they offer.
Roman Quaedvlieg, the former head of the Australian Border Force (ABF), told the Herald Sun organised crime figures have approached customs brokers in a number of different ways in the past.
“Sometimes a broker might be struggling financially and they are approached by an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and talked into complying,” Mr Quaedvlieg said.
“There was a Sydney customs broker who actually came from an organised crime background but had avoided criminal convictions and who got into customs broking to do crime.
“Customs brokers might also be approached at a sporting, social or family event. It is as simple as being tapped at a BBQ. It starts small, then sooner or later you are on the hook and you can’t get off.”
Accredited customs brokers have access to the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
The system, an electronic portal, is administered by the ABF.
Customs brokers are able to use the system to see the status of a consignment.
“If a consignment is suspicious it will be put on a generic hold,” Mr Quaedvlieg said.
“If a hold goes on everybody in the industry knows the cops are onto it. They can ring their mates and say it (the consignment) is hot, drop it.”
Yesterday the Herald Sun revealed Chinese-born Tse Chi Lop is the head of the multi-billion dollar Sam Gor syndicate, which police suspect is responsible for trafficking the ice and heroin concealed in stereo speakers from Thailand into Melbourne in April.
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In recent years, the syndicate has overtaken Mexico’s cartels in ice trafficking in the South-East Asian region.
Police believe it has been importing ice into Australia for more than a decade.
Ms Cachia, Mr Rodrigues and Mr Mizzi will return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next May.