A SYDNEY man has been charged in a NSW local court for allegedly attempting to import 16kg of illegal drugs concealed in international air cargo packages.
The AFP has alleged the man used an encrypted communications platform and facilitated the import of 14.6kg of pure methamphetamine and 1.7kg of cocaine.
The packages were bound for homes in southwest Sydney.
The consignment contained packages labelled as mashed potato packets, ink cartridges and coffee machine parts.
He was later charged with four counts of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
AFP detective superintendent Peter Fogarty said the arrest demonstrated the AFP’s commitment and tenacity to protecting the Australian community from illicit drugs.
“Let this investigation serve as yet another serious warning to those attempting to import harmful, illicit substances into Australia — we will identify you and bring you and your criminal associates to justice,” he said.
The West Ryde man is the second individual to be charged as part of an ongoing AFP investigation that began in 2022.
In October 2022, a first man was charged with possessing and trafficking a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
Investigators executed search warrants at homes in the western Sydney suburbs of Denham Court, Prestons, and Warwick Farm in October, 2022, and seized 21 mobile phones, multiple sim cards, drug paraphernalia, $18,000 in cash and small amounts of illicit drugs.
A forensic review of a seized mobile phone identified messages on an encrypted messaging application discussing delivery of consignments to locations in Warwick Farm and Denham Court and the expected profits.
The matter appears before the court.
ABF superintendent Asha Patwardhan said the ABF’s commitment to detecting and disrupting the deceitful business model of organised crime had never wavered.
“Detection capabilities only continue to improve and develop, with the ABF’s targeting and intelligence-driven approach continuing to seize and stop illicit drugs from flooding onto our streets,” Supt Patwardhan said.
“This ongoing investigation is a fantastic example of collaboration between agencies.”