Police charge family over alleged baby formula ‘export ring’ to China

Police say a Sydney family ran a crime empire that for years stole and illegally sent thousands of baby formula tins to China.

Police allege thousands of shipments of baby formula have been sent to China. Picture: NSW Police

Police said “pure greed” was the intention behind the Sydney family who have been charged with stealing and exporting $1 million worth of baby formula, vitamins and Manuka honey in the past 12 months.

It is alleged the family, who run a Carlingford news agency in northwest Sydney, ran a syndicate of “co-ordinated thefts” of the items which they were exporting overseas for a number of years.

Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said thousands of shipments of baby formula were sent to China.

“This was recorded in the last 12 months so we are thinking it is quite an expansive criminal group exploiting the overseas market at the disadvantage of Australians,” Detective Doherty said.

“They are quite literally taking baby formula out of the mouths of babies.”

Jian Feng Ke, 31, was the latest family member to be arrested after police established a Strike Force in February last year to investigate the theft and distribution of the items. He was charged at Sydney International Airport on Saturday after arriving on a flight from China. His charges include recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.

Jian Ke is led away by police at Sydney airport on Saturday. Picture: NSW Police

Six people in the alleged syndicate have been arrested and are before the courts, including Jian Feng Ke’s mother Lie Ke, 48, her husband Wueqi, 53, and his sibling Xiaoyu, 29, who was arrested this month.

Police will allege in court the family were “conducting and controlling” the activities of the theft syndicate across Sydney metropolitan area.

Major supermarket chains who are assisting police with the investigation were forced to ration the baby formula to just two tins per customer after the nationwide shortage.

Popularity in the lucrative baby milk powder spiked after the 2008 Chinese milk scandal where melamine-laced formula killed six infants and made 300,000 sick.

In August, two Carlingford properties were raided and 4000 tins of baby formula, which sell for more than double the price in China, were seized along with large quantities of stolen vitamins and Manuka honey.

Officers also seized more than $215,000 cash from one of the properties, which is alleged to be the proceeds of crime.

Detective Doherty said police anticipated at least “half a dozen more” arrests as they liaise with international and local agencies to pursue those who “seek to make a quick buck” at the disadvantage of others.

“This has been a meticulous investigation, with detectives now putting people before the courts and disrupting a well-co-ordinated theft syndicate,” Detective Doherty said.

The 53- year-old father and the 29-year-old sibling will appear at Burwood Local Court on February 5 and Jian Feng Ke will face Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday January 30.