‘Crime does not respect borders’

Australian livestock figure Rohan Arnold used his business links to facilitate the importation of $500 million worth of cocaine, police allege.

Livestock and construction industry figure Rohan Arnold used his business links to facilitate the importation of $500 million worth of cocaine, police allege.

Mr Arnold arrived back in Sydney today under police guard after being extradited from Serbia, with Australian Federal Police releasing video footage showing him being led to a waiting car.

The prominent businessman was one of three Australian men arrested at gunpoint by Serbian police in a luxury Belgrade hotel in January.

The arrests followed a nine-month investigation into the shipment to Australia of 1.28 tonnes of cocaine.

Operation Amorgos was launched after Australian Border Force officers intercepted a container of prefabricated steel that arrived in Sydney via China in April and discovered 2576 individual blocks of cocaine.

Mr Arnold is due to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today to face charges including importing and conspiring to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.

“The AFP alleges (Mr Arnold) used links he had to overseas business to facilitate the importation of 1.28 tonnes of cocaine concealed in steel posts,” An ABF statement reads.

It was Australia’s second biggest cocaine seizure, behind only a 1.4 tonne seizure of the drug in February last year.

The AFP said forensic chemists found it was 78 per cent pure, giving it an estimated street value of up to $500 million.

Mr Arnold, 44, a keen yachtsman who had raced in the Sydney to Hobart, has varied business interests.

He was a director of the South Eastern Livestock Exchange (SELX), with his arrest shocking his business partners.

Fellow SELX director Brendan Abbey said at the time of the arrest he thought Mr Arnold was in China, not Serbia.

Mr Arnold was also involved in steel importation and had stakes in childcare centre companies.

The two other Australians arrested, Tristan Waters, 33, and David Campbell, 48, remain in Serbia.

Serbian police seized a bag containing $1 million in cash during the arrests.

AFP Detective Superintendent Stephen Dametto, Coordinator Organised Crime and Cyber, said in a statement that he thanked all agencies involved in Australia and internationally.

“We’ve been alive to the fact that crime does not respect borders, and we know that crippling these syndicates is not something that can be done alone,” Superintendent Dametto said.

“As organised crime groups push further offshore, the AFP and our international network follows. When agencies work together, the net of law enforcement grows wider and alleged organised crime figures soon realise they cannot be out of reach of Australian law enforcement.”

ABF Superintendent Maritime & Detained Goods NSW, Tony McSweeney, added in the statement that it was very satisfying to see the ABF’s work contribute to the seizure and investigation.

“This demonstrates that the well-oiled machine of whole-of-government law enforcement is empowered and capable to deal with highly-organised drug smuggling syndicates,” Superintendent McSweeney said.

Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton said that “to make the largest impact on organised crime you have to target organisers and facilitators”.

“The man extradited today is someone that police will allege had the contacts and experience to facilitate this large shipment into Australia,” Mr Dutton said.

“This Government is committed to giving our law enforcement agencies the resources and support it needs to stop this insidious business preying on Australians.”

Minister for Law Enforcement Angus Taylor praised the work of the agencies involved.

“Bringing this man before an Australian court is a fantastic result for the diligence and hard work of the AFP and the ABF and demonstrates the critical importance of enduring relationships with overseas law enforcement agencies,” Mr Taylor said.

“This extradition has been crucially important in protecting our local communities from the scourge of drugs.

“We need to acknowledge the cooperation of Serbian authorities in this successful extradition, which sends the message to organised crime that the reach of law enforcement continues to grow internationally.”