Operation Winfield: 11kg cocaine, meth seized, three men charged with Darwin air cargo syndicate

A joint NT Police, ABF and AFP raid has seized 11kg worth of hard drugs destined for the Darwin market allegedly secreted within air cargo at two locations. Watch two of the men get arrested.

A joint law enforcement raid has seized 11kg worth of hard drugs destined for the Darwin market and allegedly secreted within air cargo at two locations, charging three men with offences relating to their alleged involvement in the international syndicate.

On Friday, the Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Task Force, consisting of NT Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police and the nation’s criminal intelligence body revealed the existence of Operation Winfield, which busted a “large-scale international drug syndicate”.

According to the statement issued by the task force, on May 23, investigators intercepted 6kg of cocaine and 5kg of methamphetamine, valued at more than $7m, destined for the Darwin market.

“Detectives monitored two men, aged 24, who allegedly formed part of an international syndicate as they took possession of the drugs that were concealed in air cargo at two separate locations,” the statement read.

Three men aged in their 20s have been arrested by officers attached to the NTJOCTF's Operation Winfield in relation to the alleged importation of 11kg of meth and cocaine secreted within air cargo at two locations. Picture: NTJCOTF

“Simultaneous arrests were made as the offenders removed the drugs in order to allegedly distribute them on the Darwin market.”

The two men appeared in Darwin Local Court on May 24 charged with two counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, and two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a Schedule 1 drug.

6kg of cocaine has been seized by under the Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Task Force's Operation Winfield, alongside 5kg of methamphetamine. Three men have faced the Darwin Local Court. Picture: NTJOCTF

The men were remanded in custody to reappear before the court on July 17.

A 28-year-old man allegedly connected to the syndicate was subsequently arrested on June 11.

He was charged with one count each of importing a commercial quantity of a broader controlled drug, supplying a commercial quantity of a Schedule 1 drug, possessing cannabis, and possessing a Schedule 1 drug.

Three men aged in their 20s have been arrested by officers attached to the NTJOCTF's Operation Winfield in relation to the alleged importation of 11kg of meth and cocaine secreted within air cargo at two locations. Picture: NTJCOTF

He was remanded in police custody to appear before the Darwin Local Court on July 31.

NT Police Superintendent Lee Morgan said the task force believed the syndicate to be responsible “for in excess of 18kg of cocaine and 14kg of methamphetamine that has been detected and intercepted as part of this operation since March 2024”.

The March 9 seizure of 9kg of methamphetamine from a business premises at Winnellie, believed to be the Territory largest ever meth bust, is allegedly related to the same syndicate, Superintendent Morgan said.

That previous raid resulted in a 30-year-old Darwin resident being charged with multiple offences.

Superintendent Morgan said the task force expected more arrests to follow, both “locally, nationally and internationally”.