Operation Merriden: AFP, NT Police arrest Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 33, in Darwin in relation to alleged cocaine network

A Darwin bodybuilder has been accused of orchestrating the massive cocaine operation that struck a deal with bikie gangs to send hundreds of kilos of cocaine across the country.

A DARWIN bodybuilder has been accused of orchestrating the massive cocaine operation that struck a deal with bikie gangs to send hundreds of kilos of cocaine across the country.

Darwin bodybuilder Rhys Alwyn Ferzst, 33 has been unmasked as the man police allege headed up a cocaine empire backed by the Colombian cartel.

Ferzst was arrested in dramatic scenes on Thursday night after leaving the gym.

In a press conference on Friday, the Australian Federal Police revealed as part of Operation Merriden, search warrants were executed in New South Wales, the NT and Queensland.

They resulted in nine arrests and the discovery of an industrial-sized, purpose built cocaine production laboratory in regional Queensland town, Durong, which is believed to be able to render 700kg in pure cocaine.

Police allege the network was operating under the direction of a Colombian organised crime syndicate.

It will be alleged Ferzst received instructions overseas about a shipment of cocaine smuggled into NSW.

A search warrant executed at his home uncovered thousands of dollars in cash, electronic devices and steroids.

Police also seized a 7.8m boat and are investigating if the vessel was used to collect drugs dropped at sea, hundreds of kilometres off the NT coast.

It is alleged the muscled-up Ferzst directed the Aussie cartel’s operations and would receive instructions from Colombia about a shipment of cocaine smuggled into NSW from overseas.

Gold Coast man Benjamin Joseph Williams, 30, was also arrested in Darwin and charged over his alleged involvement in the manufacturing operation.

33-year-old Darwin man Rhys Alwyn Ferszt is arrested by police. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The men were charged with conspiracy to manufacture a commercial quantity of controlled drugs.

Both men are expected to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday, July 25 and face a potential life sentence in jail if convicted.

Another four men and a woman were arrested in relation to the alleged drug network across the nation.

The nine people arrested are alleged to be members of what police described as “relentless” Australian arm of a coke cartel who would onsell to bikie gangs for distribution.

The case against the defendants is alleged to include telephone intercepts, physical evidence, surveillance and listening devices.

“We will allege that some of the people arrested were connected to international organised crime syndicates in Colombia and outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Eastern Command Kirsty Schofield said.

“We will also allege that over the last few months, this cartel established a cocaine production facility near the Queensland town of Durong.

“The syndicate has the resources, the financial support, the capability, the chemicals, and importantly, the skills and knowledge to extract to produce hundreds of kilograms of cocaine for distribution across Australia.

“This facility, which is about 600 sqm, was run by two men who used a variety of sophisticated chemical processes to extract the cocaine that had been blended into another substance.

“This was a sophisticated, ambitious and ruthless organised crime group that could order the movement of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine with one phone call.

“It is a great credit to our investigators that they were able to identify a suspicious person arriving into the country, follow the money trail and get one step ahead.”

The shed lab at Durong is in the process of being pulled apart which is expected to take about four days.

AFP acting Superintendent Detective Ben Moses said police began its investigations into the alleged syndicate in May after a person of interest was seen picking up the Colombian national from Sydney airport.

The arrest of a 38-year-old Sydney man allegedly caught with 10 kgs of cocaine in two fridges loaded on the back of a Volkswagen Amarok ute triggered arrests around the country in three jurisdictions.

Just after 7pm the vehicle was surrounded by police when pulled over at a service station at Heatherbrae north of Newcastle at the same time as police arrested another eight people around the country.

Supt Moses said the Durong “cocaine factory” was alleged to have been deliberately set up to elude police and the public.

“It was specifically built in the back of a property, on a very large site, on a number of hectares,” he said.

“Two of the people arrested we believed resided there and we will allege the property had been purchased for this purpose.

“By way of results and the scale, we stopped it in its tracks.”