George Lei, Nelson Diep Truong, Hung Kei Lam face court over MDMA bust

Three men have faced court following one of the biggest MDMA busts in Australian history with more than one tonne of the party drug seized. It is estimated the shipment would have made more than three million pills.

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An international drug ring attempting to supply one of the biggest hauls of the party drug MDMA in Australian history has been dismantled by police in Sydney.

The more than one tonne of MDMA would have made three million pills thought to be worth around $86 million.

The drug ring - which originated in Korea - was allegedly traced back to drug dealers attempting to operate in Wentworth Point, Cabramatta, Carlingford, Rooty Hill, Malabar and Kingsford.

Three men - George Lei, Nelson Diep Truong and Hung Kei Lam – appeared in court on Wednesday morning, alleged to be part of the operation.

More than a tonne of MDMA has been seized and five people charged. Picture: ABF

A joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and NSW Police together with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and South Korean authorities was launched after the consignment containing pallets with 648 plastic tubs was detected on January 11.

Labelled “tile adhesive”, further investigations allegedly revealed that 176 tubs actually contained a powder that tested positive for MDMA.

One of the five people arrested. Picture: ABF

The shipment, measured at 1,053kg, was seized and authorities. The drugs were then replaced with an innate substance and authorities carried out a controlled delivery to the shipment’s intended destination in Camperdown.

The drugs were seized following a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF) and NSW Police Force. Picture: ABF

After police allegedly observed multiple visits to the site and meetings between the group Lei, Diep Truong and Lam were arrested in raids at a unit in Celeste St, Rooty Hill and a Malabar home on Tuesday.

It will be alleged Canadian nationals Lei, 27, and Truong, 27, travelled to Camperdown several times over the course of a month to extract portions of the powder to send to Australian customers.

Hong Kong national Lam, 29, who was living on Anzac Pde in Kingsford, allegedly distributed the shipment to others in Sydney to be sold on Australian streets.

The drugs were concealed as tile adhesive. Picture: ABF

All three men did not appear on screen or apply for bail when their matters briefly mentioned at Central Local Court on Wednesday, where they were adjourned until April 28.

Police allege two other men, Allen Jin and Nam Vu Hoai Nguyen, were among the recipients of the substituted MDMA powder.

They were both arrested on Friday, February 28 during searches in Carlingford, Wentworth Point, Cabramatta West, and Cabramatta.

At the Carlingford and Wentworth Point addresses, police allegedly seized MDMA, cocaine and material alleged to be substituted MDMA removed from the original shipment as well as electronic devices and ammunition.

The drugs were spread over 600 separate tubs. Picture: ABF

At the Cabramatta West and Cabramatta addresses, police allegedly located and seized substances suspected to be MDMA, cocaine and approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine.

Police say they also seized an estimated $250,000 in cash, two loaded firearms – including an automatic shotgun with a drum magazine and a Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistol – false identification material and ammunition.

Nguyen, 22, from Cabramatta West and Jin, 26, of Carlingford were each charged with drug offences, dealing with proceeds of crime and the possession of firearms and ammunition.

They were both refused bail at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday and will face Burwood and Fairfield local courts on May 12 and April 24 respectively.

Pictured at AFP headquarters in Sydney is Acting Commander of Border Force Garry Lowe, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough and an Australian Federal Police agent at a press conference announcing arrests in connection with a one tonne MDMA drug haul. Picture: Richard Dobson

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Eastern Command Justine Gough said the seizure was the second biggest ever made in Sydney.

“This seizure is one of the largest in Australian history and the MDMA powder, if pressed into tablets, could have produced more than three million tablets – it demonstrates the lengths that organised crime syndicates will go to in order to supply the Australia market,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Gough said.

NSW is mid way through its 80 event strong music festival season where it is believed many of these drugs were bound.

Australian Border Force Acting Commander Investigations Garry Low said the bust came as a result of a tip-off from the Department of Home Affairs. It is also understood that police worked with Canadian and Korean authorities.

“ABF officers have sophisticated technology and unique skills at their disposal, which gives them the ability to identify illegal substances no matter how they are concealed,” Acting Commander Low said.

The drugs are estimated to be worth more than $200 million. Picture: ABF

“This detection is the second biggest MDMA seizure in Sydney. Every day, ABF officers go to work determined to protect Australia from these harmful substances and cases like these show their hard work and dedication pays off.”

Originally published as George Lei, Nelson Diep Truong, Hung Kei Lam face court over MDMA bust