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Three men have been charged for allegedly possessing and trafficking more than 55kg of illicit drugs hidden in secret compartments within a number of vehicles transported between NSW and Victoria.
The AFP will allege two Victorian men and a NSW man were key members of an organised criminal syndicate suspected of concealing illicit drugs, including cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine, within a fleet of vehicles and transporting them via tray trucks from Sydney to Melbourne this year.
The men allegedly used purpose-built hides, located in the rear seat area of Toyota Camry sedans, to conceal and transport the illicit drugs and more than $1 million of criminal proceeds.
The AFP, with assistance from Victoria Police, executed a number of search warrants at residential properties in Deer Park, Niddrie, and Maribyrnong, Victoria, and a vehicle at Wagga Wagga, NSW, on 25 June, 2024.
During the searches police located and seized illicit drugs, including 22kg of cocaine, 3kg of MDMA, 1kg of methamphetamine, a quantity of cash, and two loaded firearms.
The AFP arrested a 23-year-old Niddrie man at Deer Park, and a 20-year-old man from NSW at Maribyrnong.
The men were each charged with:
- One count of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug, contrary to section 302.2 (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drug that is reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported, contrary to section 307.8 (1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The Niddrie man was also charged with one count of possess a traffickable quantity of firearms, contrary to section 7C of the Firearms Act 1996 (VIC).
On 28 June 2024, police identified a third man allegedly linked to the organised crime syndicate and executed a search warrant at a Craigieburn property. Investigators seized various electronic devices for further forensic analysis and arrested a 23-year-old man.
The AFP will allege the man was responsible for 25kg of methamphetamine, 5kg of cocaine and more than $1 million of suspected criminal proceeds located and seized with the assistance of Victoria Police, in the flooring of a van at Airport West, on 16 May, 2024.
The Craigieburn man was charged with:
- Two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug, contrary to section 302.2 (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drug that is reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported, contrary to section 307.8 (1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- Dealing with money or property believed to be proceeds of crime, and at the time of dealing the value of the money or property was $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3 (1) of the Criminal Code 1995.
All three men have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to reappear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 29 October, 2024. They are each facing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said police suspect the vehicles were modified with secret compartments to conceal a significant amount of illicit drugs in a failed attempt to evade detection from authorities.
"Organised criminal syndicates will continue to evolve and devise creative new concealment methods to avoid detection from law enforcement," Det. Supt Butcher said.
"Our message to criminals is clear: your efforts will fail and the AFP is always one step ahead of your plans.
"I would like to thank the AFP officers involved in the investigation and highlight their relentless efforts to disrupt criminal syndicates causing Australians immense harm through the vile drug trade.
"The amount of illicit drugs seized from this syndicate had an estimated street value of more than $11 million and had the potential to facilitate more than 37,500 individual street deals, if it had reached Australian streets.
"This seizure demonstrates the importance of collaboration between the AFP and Victoria Police, working tirelessly together to disrupt attempts by organised crime groups to import and traffic large quantities of illicit drugs into Australia.
"The AFP would also like to alert members of the public about purpose-built compartments in vehicles used to hide illicit commodities and encourage people to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au, to report suspicious activity anonymously."