Colombian drug ring: Two men, 38 and 48, front Kingaroy Magistrates Court on serious drug charges

Two men have fronted Kingaroy Magistrates Court in connection to an alleged Colombian drug ring that was busted in a South Burnett town, leading to the arrest of another seven people by federal police. FULL DETAILS:

Two men have faced court in connection to an alleged Colombian drug ring in a small South Burnett town, which had built an alleged custom-made “cocaine factory’’ capable of processing hundreds of kilos of the drug from importations disguised as liquid products.

Alexander Villegas Jaramillo, 38, and Fabio Fernandez Pulgarin, 48, were arrested on Friday in connection to the massive cocaine operation at Durong.

It will be alleged that Mr Pulgarin, known as “the chemist”, flew to Australia to teach his method of cocaine production to others at the syndicate.

The two Colombian men are facing one count each of conspiracy to manufacture commercial quantities of controlled drugs.

Police have dismantled an Australian criminal network allegedly importing and manufacturing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine under the direction of a Colombian organised crime syndicate. Picture: AFP

Both matters were adjourned with Mr Colgara to front the court again on Monday.

Mr Jaramillo’s case will next be mentioned in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on October 17.

Neither made an application for bail, with both to be remanded in custody until their next court date.

The pair were two of the nine people arrested across Queensland, the Northern Territory and New South Wales on Thursday night and charged with a variety of serious drug and money laundering offences.

Police have dismantled an Australian criminal network allegedly importing and manufacturing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine under the direction of a Colombian organised crime syndicate. Picture: AFP

Rhys Alwyn Ferzst, who the Australian Federal Police will allege directed the Australian activities of a Colombian-based organised crime group, was arrested in Darwin.

It will be alleged Mr Ferzst, 33, received instructions from overseas about a shipment of cocaine smuggled into NSW.

Police will allege the syndicate purchased land at Durong and spent tens of thousands of dollars to build a 600 sqm drug lab, which investigators say could have produced up to 700kg of cocaine since it was established, disguising the drugs as liquid products.

Police have dismantled an Australian criminal network allegedly importing and manufacturing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine under the direction of a Colombian organised crime syndicate. Picture: AFP

AFP Assistant Commissioner Eastern Command Kirsty Schofield said the complex investigation involved syndicate members all over the country and also multiple international law enforcement agencies.

“The (alleged) global syndicate identified in this operation was ruthless and well-resourced, building a custom-made laboratory to extract and produce cocaine for distribution to multiple organised crime groups in Australia,” she said.

“This investigation has stopped a very large shipment from being passed on to multiple distributors and hitting Australian streets, and prevented millions of dollars from being pumped into the criminal economy.”

Originally published as Colombian drug ring: Two men, 38 and 48, front Kingaroy Magistrates Court on serious drug charges