Trio arrested in elaborate drug-smuggling plot

Police allege two Melbourne men and a Greek national tried to import $20m in cocaine in a music machine delivery.

Vaios Gkourmis, 26, was one of two men arrested over the alleged importation of 45kg of cocaine.

Two Melbourne men are doing the Jailhouse Rock while on remand after 45kg of cocaine was uncovered in a jukebox imported from Greece.

Police say the cocaine – valued at $20 million – came in with the music machine as part of an organised crime gang’s international smuggling racket.

It was detected this week by Australian Border Force officers.

Authorities allowed its collection and it was driven to a home in North Sunshine.

Victoria Police and Australian Federal Police officers from the Joint Organised Crime Taskforce then made three arrests.

They were Ertgrei Gjeka, 39, of Spotswood, Vaios Gkourmis, 26, of Reservoir man, and a 66-year-old male Greek national.

Homes were searched at Spotswood and Reservoir, as well as businesses in Toorak and Kingsville.

The jukebox was imported from Greece.

Two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, luxury watches, jewellery, clothing, drugs and what police described as a “significant quantity of cash” were confiscated.

The men from Reservoir and Spotswood were charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and the attempted possession of a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.

Both faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and have been remanded in custody while the Greek man was freed pending further inquiries.

Police say the cocaine – valued at $20 million – came in with the music machine. Picture: Supplied

The swoop was part of a four-month JOCTF investigation into alleged drug smuggling by a Melbourne-based organised crime syndicate.

Investigators believe the group involved have orchestrated other drug consignments.

Victoria Police Acting Detective Superintendent Andrew Stamper said such operations highlighted the high local demand for illegal drugs.

“Ultimately, we really need to challenge attitudes around the use of illicit drugs in the community,” acting Supt Stamper said.

A Mercedes Benz was seized. Picture: Supplied

A motorbike was also seized. Picture: Supplied

“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who bring that harm to our state are held to account, and that these criminal syndicates are strongly and deliberately targeted.

Supt Stamper said the result would not have come about without the co-operation of state and Commonwealth agencies.

Detective Insp. Mark McKiernan of the AFP said it was likely the illicit drugs would have been distributed across Victoria by criminals associated with serious organised crime.

“We will allege that the men arrested yesterday are significant syndicate members,’’ Insp. McKiernan said.

“We are sending a strong and clear message today to organised crime. We will not stop. We are coming after you.”

Insp. McKiernan said there was a community perception that cocaine was a safe drug.

“Let me be clear, it is not, and just as importantly, the transnational serious organised criminals who target Australia are also undermining our national security, economy and social security system.

The damage was not confined to Australia, he said.

“We also know drug trafficking can lead to drug wars in our streets and in source countries, and often law-abiding citizens can be the collateral damage to that violence,” Insp. McKiernan said.

“Illicit drug trafficking can also bankroll other abhorrent crimes, such as human trafficking and sexual servitude.”