Three men arrested after drug import with links to infamous runaway is lost to sea floor

A failed cocaine import has led to an international smuggling syndicate scuffle, with one of the alleged Australian crooks involved linked to infamous runaway Mostafa Baluch.

The loss of 60 kgs of cocaine at sea before it arrived in Australia allegedly led to an international argument between a local trio of criminals and their overseas partners, who accused them of taking it for themselves.

Jovanco Kitanovski, 47, Mende Trajkoski, 43, and Robert Damcevski, 47, are all facing the possibility of life in prison if found guilty of charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

The failed cocaine shipment worth $45 million was allegedly hidden in tyres linked by chains to the outside of cargo vessels, but when a diver went to pick it up after the ship docked at Port Botany he dropped it – and it sunk to the ocean floor.

Police allege the three men were the Australian arm of a major international syndicate.

Kitanovski was last year charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly trying to help another accused drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch escape Australia, after he cut off his ankle bracelet while out on bail.

Mende Trajkoski is one of three men charged over an alleged 60kg cocaine importation that failed to arrive. Picture: Facebook

Two attempts to allegedly import 30 kgs of cocaine in tyres, attached to cargo ships with a steel chain, failed. Police then had to retrieve the tyres from the ocean floor. Picture: AFP

Authorities later found an empty tyre and believe the cocaine was lost either during the ship’s voyage, or when the diver dropped the tyre.

Police allege that four months later the drug syndicate tried to do another importation of 30 kgs, but unbeknown to them NSW Police got to the tyre before the syndicate.

However yet again they found an empty tyre, with the drugs presumed to have been lost at sea.

Police allege that through the AN0M phones they believed were secure, but were actually being monitored by international law enforcement, the Australian accused argued with the overseas partners who had sent them the drugs about whether or not they had arrived in NSW.

There was also allegedly arguments between the syndicate members about a potential multimillion dollar debt over the failed importation.

“The guys in Australia were saying: ‘There’s no coke in the tyres’,” one police source alleged.

“On the other end they were saying: ‘Well we put it there, you must have taken it’.”

Feuds over potentially stolen drugs have previously led to major conflict, including the theft of 400 kgs of cocaine from a separate criminal syndicate which has been linked to several of the 13 shootings to occur on Sydney’s streets over the last 18 months.

Kitanovski was last year charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly trying to help another accused drug kingpin, Mostafa Baluch, escape Australia. Picture: Richard Dobson

Baluch allegedly cut off his ankle bracelet while out on bail and disappeared for several weeks, before being arrested at the NSW and Queensland border. Picture: NSW Police

AFP Detective Superintendent Matthew Ciantar said breakthroughs linked to the AN0M app would continue to come.

“Transnational serious organised crime groups prey on Australia because it is one of the most profitable countries in the world to sell drugs,” Det-Supt Ciantar said.

“Had these drugs reached Australian streets, this amount could have been sold to 300,000 individuals and put up to $45 million into the pockets of dangerous criminals.

“This outcome should serve as a clear message … we will find you and you will face the full force of the law.”

Trajkoski and Kitanovski faced Central Local Court on May 4 where they were refused bail and ordered to reappear on June 29.

Damcevski will face the same court for the first time on June 1.

Originally published as Three men arrested after drug import with links to infamous runaway is lost to sea floor