On Saturday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch revealed how local and international officers outwitted cartels who attempted to bring the countrys biggest-ever stash of drugs onshore via Perth beaches, replacing the cocaine with plaster of paris before swooping on the alleged smugglers. The meth could have fetched nearly $10 million on Perth streets. There, Tactical Response Group (TRG) officers were laying in wait, arresting three men. Australian Federal Police have charged four men and seized 8kg of methamphetamine after busting an alleged Vietnamese drug trafficking syndicate in Perth. This comp is for you! Australian police have intercepted $1bn Australian dollars worth of cocaine from entering the west of the country, in what is believed to be the nation's biggest-ever drug bust. Kewdale Murder Charge Credit:Nine News. However, in 2010, as the Australian branch of the syndicate started to unravel, Ayik fled the country. The drugs had a street value of around 562.9m ($1bn Australian dollars), and were equivalent to half of Australia's estimated annual consumption, according to police. Little did the trio know they were allegedly racing away from police without a single gram of drugs on board after border agent swapped out the drugs day before. Remote landing strips were and still are a hole in Australia's national security network, too isolated and remote to be monitored effectively. News drugs drugs Man charged after allegedly trucking 136kg of cannabis to Queensland Police said they found the drugs behind a number of potted palm trees in the back of the truck. Western Australian police search a boat allegedly used to retrieve a package about 40 nautical miles off Perth's coast. Arrests being made at Hillarys Boat Harbour.Credit: Police Media, Theres some good crooks in the mix and thats what we want.. The same group of detectives arrested two alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, with nearly a million dollars and more than $360,000 in methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. Best Perth pubs for pre-footy beers or a cheeky cocktail, West Australian Newspapers Limited 2023. "I say that it's a magnificent effort to defend our shores," WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. Eight men and one woman have been charged with serious drug offences and were refused bail. Sooner or later, they will receive a knock on the door from police and at this point, the realisation quickly dawns that they have made a decision that has ruined their life. Watch and listen to a variety of WA true crime series, video channels and podcasts with commentary on news, politics and current affairs. The meth was replaced with a harmless substance and repacked before the cargo was released to be collected and the sting was on. Our job is to protect this community and well go after whoever seeks to harm us.. Midland Detectives are investigating an attempted aggravated armed robbery that occurred on Sunday 23 April 2023, in Beechboro. A further nine arrests were made through to 13 January, including on the Great Eastern highway, roughly 373 miles (600km) east of Perth, where officers found more than 1.2m ($2m) in cash. Please try again later. In a cunning plan to trap them, police substituted the cargo for fake cocaine using identical packaging. "Ah, we have an issue here," Detective Morrish said as he peeked inside the bag. A total of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine was stopped from entering our shores and 12 people were arrested in the largest bust in Australian history. Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. A man is arrested by WA Police as part of a seizure of drugs being imported into Australia. 02:58 EDT 05 Jan 2022. A total of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth about $1 billion was prevented from reaching WA shores thanks to a secret high-risk operation involving WA Polices new transnational serious and organised crime squad and agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Three men arrested for attempting to import almost $1million worth of meth. He has since been spotted in Cyprus, Spain and Dubai, with Australian authorities suspecting he is the mastermind behind a massive drug lab in India capable of exporting tonnes of methamphetamine around the world. Police watch as offenders on board a boat stashed with drugs tows a smaller boat.Credit: Police Media, The people that we are targeting are the people that are involved at the upper echelon because theyre harder to replace, and word gets out.. The dozen alleged offenders already arrested come from the US, NSW and the Northern Territory. Nov 14, 2022 9:46 AM OPP officers executed a search warrant at a home in Perth on Thursday, Nov. 10, seizing drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, Hydromorphone, unidentified pills and $1200.. 26 Apr 2023 2:37 pm AEST. A police siren is used to wake occupants as around 10 officers file inside. "I will say that this is the first time we've done anything of this scale," Blanch said. Credit: 7NEWS/supplied Cool Runnings had issues with steering and washed ashore south of Moore River. Breaking news, sport, business and more. Australian Federal Police have charged four people after seizing eight kilograms of methamphetamine during an investigation into a suspected Vietnamese drug trafficking syndicate in Perth. The trio faced Perth Magistrate's Court on 31 December and were remanded in custody to reappear on Wednesday. More than a decade later after the sting, drugs continue to slip across Australia's borders from overseas, as the nation's drug users consume more than four tonnes of cocaine every year. Western Australias new police commissioner has used his first press conference to provide details about an alleged organised-crime drugs sting, which included the seizure of cars and gold bullion. The operation took place over three states, including WA and netted more than 20 kilograms of cannabis and 16 kilograms of methylamphetamine. One - struggling to navigate the West Australian waters - beaching 70 kilometres north of Perth. Over the following days, police watched as two boats were used to bring the drugs to shore, where three men were arrested at Moore River and a further six at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Officers also found a loaded handgun, firearm parts, ammunition and $26,000 cash. During the course of this week, the Caulfield DRU has removed more than $380,000 of methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from Victorian streets, seized more than $1.1 million in allegedly ill-gotten cash, and arrested three people for trafficking., Our experienced and dedicated detectives are working together with other specialist and regional areas to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks, and most importantly, stop drugs from hitting Victorian streets.. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. But during his trial in the WA District Court, Judge Christopher Stevenson said the duo had played a "dangerous game of Russian Roulette" trying to incriminate each other, "the last refuge of a desperate man to avoid any criminal liability". 17 people have been charged, over 20 million dollars of assets have been seized. They paid for the fuel and he built up his hours. Six men will be charged over the importation of nearly $50 million of cocaine supplied by a Mexican drug cartel. Mr Blanch said almost two weeks after the arrests at Hillarys Boat Harbour, police received information from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission that led to a search of a car on Great Eastern Highway near Coolgardie. Sitting at Acacia Prisons crowded visitor room, he says it all began with a phone call from a client looking for a plane ride from Bankstown, in Sydneys south-west, to Jandakot. AFP and ABF officers swooped on the trio as they left the site in a white van, resulting in a dramatic collision after the men allegedly tried to evade police. The 1970s Aztec Piper no longer sits at Jandakot Airport. Get the news you want delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a headline. It is alleged that members of the syndicate then used two boats - Catalina and Cool Runnings - to make several attempts to find and retrieve the cargo. Inert Cocaine is dropped in the ccean by WA Police. Two men have faced court after a traffic stop led to a large drug bust in Perth's north-east. The next few months after the bust, investigators from the Australian Crime Commission infiltrated international money-laundering streams and exposed Ayik's drug empire. 20:54 EDT 04 Jan 2022 Then on 13 January police stopped a vehicle on the Great Eastern Highway near Coolgardie, more than 550km east of Perth, and found more than $2m in cash. Russia may soon run out of money: billionaire. Cool Runnings is towed by offenders onboard another vessel Catalina . The body of MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo was found at 2am at a hotel in one of Melbournes most famous streets. It was a 30-plus degree summer day and, although a cyclone was gravitating towards Western Australia's northern coast, not a gust of wind was blowing at the strip. They dropped it 40 nautical miles west of the state capital Perth, while monitoring it using drones and helicopters. In 2008, police busted $8 million worth of drugs in a light plane flying to Jandakot Airport from NSW, kick-starting the largest police operation in history. The nets are so heavy that at one point officers can be seen kicking them into the ocean, 80km off the WA coast on December 28, 2022. The raid was the result of a six-month investigation into drug trafficking, dubbed Operation Miami. Operation Kingston Alcatraz netted 6kg of methylamphetamine and nearly $60,000 in cash. Credit:Nine News. The drugs had been seized, so the risk of 2.4 tonnes coming to our shores had been mitigated, he said. Eight-week-old puppy's leg amputated after being thrown against wall. Trusted enough to keep an eye on Santos and ensure the safe delivery of the drugs, Judge Stevenson would describe Micalizzi's role as "likely to have not only included some financial reward but some relationship-building with those he was associated with". A 62-year-old man was arrested and charged over the stash. The comments below have not been moderated, By The force will continue to aggressively target drug traffickers and their criminal networks, Commissioner Col Blanch said on Sunday. Santos claims he had no knowledge of any drugs being transported on the plane and maintains there was no forensic evidence linking him to the bag. Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc. October 8 2021, 9.38am Seven people between the ages of 16 and 26 have been charged in connection with drug-related offences after a raid in Perth. Police officers have seized 10kg of the dangerous drug methylamphetamine and more than $300,000 in cash following searches at suburban Perth homes. The pick-up was witnessed by officers from the ABF, the AFP, and Western Australian police officers who were assisted by Home Affairs and theAustralian Criminal Intelligence Commission. Police learned the alleged Australian arm of the group was waiting to receive the haul about 28 December, prompting WA officers to put together a dummy package using an inert substance. Six more men were then arrested at a popular family boat harbour in Perth. A massive blaze erupted at an auction yard in Perth on Friday night, with dozens of cars going up in flames. 266266 Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc. Arrests being made at Hillarys Boat Harbour. to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox. "WA is an attractive coastline because they think they won't be detected, it's such a large space, with very few people but they do not understand the capability of WA police," Blanch said. The two men were met then met another group, who then allegedly helped to unload the boxes of latex pillows into a shipping container at the property. Extraordinary footage of the biggest drug bust in Australian history which resulted in WA Police arresting a dozen people with alleged links to a Mexican drug cartel can be seen for the first time. Police say importers are looking to exploit high prices for the drug in WA, where supply has been disrupted by Covid-19 border restrictions. 'Criminal syndicates are looking to exploit this demand and sell methamphetamine in WA to maximise their profits, they do not care about the immense harm that this drug causes,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Tanti said. By These campaigns always reflect our most important policing priorities. 395 talking about this. Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup. We had members from New South Wales, Northern Territory and one from the United States and we will allege that they were here to retrieve that 2.4 tonnes of cocaine and distribute it amongst our country. The men face a potential life sentence if convicted. WIN a share of $75,000 in cash prizes with the worlds richest short story competition. Pilots wondered why it sat there, rusting, and told tall stories about where it came from. WA cops crack cartels mega $1b drug shipment. It was March 5, 2008. 'Life will never be the same': MasterChef stars post tributes to Jock, Fatal flaw in escape from infamous island prison, Push to extend 'really popular' $100 voucher for NSW parents, Man denied bail after allegedly stealing Nick Kyrgios' Tesla, holding mum at gunpoint. Stay on top of latest drug news stories and find out what just happened, what is going on with drug. Inert cocaine being dropped into the ocean by WA Police in a sting operation to target drug smugglers. Forensic specialists estimated there was about 99kg of meth inside the pillows, with a street value of at least $100 million. Kewdale Murder Charge (modern). Regular chances to win incredible prizes like luxury getaways and sports tickets with our subscriber exclusive competitions. A handcuffed Santos assists police searching the plane at Jandakot Airport. Western Australian Police seized a small vessel on 28 December, with intelligence suggesting that alleged members of the syndicate were unaware and still expecting to receive the shipment. A covert police operation has foiled a billion dollars worth of cocaine entering Western Australia, with officers duping the alleged criminals into believing they had gotten away with the import. Police have revealed details of a covert international operation that stopped 2.4 tonnes of cocaine, worth $1 billion, from reaching Western Australia, in what is believed to be the nation's biggest-ever drug bust. Key points: Mohammed Charif Oueida is one of three people charged over the bust Police allege Mr Oueida is the principal person behind the operation Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. But until now, its role in one of the biggest law enforcement operations in Australian history has remained a mystery. Now, we did actually split those drugs up, even though they were seized from the United States, we reconstructed them using plaster of Paris. Border Force officers were first alerted to the delivery when a 550kg shipment of latex pillows arrived in Fremantle on a container ship on December 17. Police seized 6kg of methylamphetamine and more than $59,000 cash from a vehicle and properties in suburban Perth last Sunday. The Aztec landed at Jandakot Airport just before 4pm. The force said on Tuesday 52 charges were laid as part of the operation, and six guns and 3000 rounds of ammunition seized. A further nine arrests were made through to 13 January, including on the Great Eastern highway, roughly 373 miles (600km) east of Perth, where officers found more than 1.2m ($2m) in cash. 'Okay, without being fantastic': Alan Joyce's legacy after 15 years at the helm of Qantas. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. , updated Just last month, 365 kilograms of cocaine was found stashed in an overturned boat off the coast of Esperance following the dramatic rescue of three men found clinging to an esky. A police investigation would later reveal Micalizzi was a drug runner for the Comancheros, a middleman in an international drug syndicate led by Turkish-Australian gym junkie Hakan Ayik. Arrests such as these should serve as a stark reminder of the life changing repercussions associated with drug dealing, Caulfield Divisional Response Unit (DRU) Acting Detective Sergeant Wes Yarnton said. On New Years Eve police made a series of further arrests, charging nine other people in East Perth, Scarborough, West Perth and Rivervale. It was at this point, under the cover of darkness, that the TRG officers struck. Police said the rented motorhome was monitored by officers as itentered WA on Thursday, April15 after crossing the border at Eucla from Melbourne. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. In the first part of the vision, WA officers who had replaced the drug with plaster of paris and made sure the packaging was identical can be seen dumping large nets containing 1.2 tonnes of the fake cocaine that were attached to orange buoys into the water. RECAP: Heres what a year of hikes has done to repayments, Karate expert carrying injury before unsolved death, Scheming son jailed after conning $150k off his father, Kyrgios mum held at gunpoint, car stolen, Appeal rejected for teen who killed couple, unborn baby, Alleged accomplice to gangland murder to stay in jail. Pic: Western Australia Police, Money seized from a vehicle on the Great Eastern highway. An alleged plot to smuggle 99kg of meth into Australia came to a dramatic end when the getaway van crashed into police car. Ayik, then in his early 30s, had made a fortune by forging alliances with Chinese triads, Indian chemical suppliers, the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang and known underworld figures to create a multi-billion dollar international drug syndicate spanning across continents. The Turkish-Australian holds dual citizenship, and despite being included in the NSW police most wanted persons list and having an Interpol arrest warrant against his name, Turkey does not extradite its citizens. Santos is eight years into a 15-year sentence and will tell anyone who listens he is innocent. "The people who bought those drugs into this believed there was another 1.2 tonnes sitting in a warehouse in WA - so we waited and we watched," Blanch said. Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail, Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter. On December the 28th we observed nine men come into Western Australia, some were from WA, he said. We say we go after those who supply these drugs who organise these drugs to be distributed through our entire community, not just Western Australia, he said. Officers watched their moves from the air and a tactical response group arrested three people aboard Cool Runnings allegedly with about 1.2 tonnes of the inert substance. September 14, 2021 - 7:32PM NCA NewsWire Police have arrested 19 people and seized $7 million in cash in a massive drug sting in Western Australia. Acting deputy police commissioner Tony Longhorn said Australia was an attractive proposition for would-be drug dealers. They also seized 16kg of ox blood methylamphetamine, 3kg of gold bullion, 300g of cocaine and more than $320,000 cash from multiple properties across the metropolitan area on Wednesday. Organised crime squad detectives charged two men aged 44 and another aged 38 in connection with cash and drugs. Biggest drug bust in Australian history: Cocaine worth $1 billion seized in WA sting. News. March 4, 2023 9.59am Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The biggest drug bust in Australian history has been pulled off by WA Police after an undercover operation led to the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth about $1 billion dollars. The four charged are expected to face Perth Magistrate's Court again this afternoon (21 May 2021). We then arrested two further individuals with over $2 million in cash in their vehicle., Arrests being made by WA Police as part of a $1 billion cocaine interception.Credit: Police Media. On the morning of December 29, two men arrived to allegedly pick up the boxes of pillows and take them back to a house in Maddington. The operation sends a message to international drug traffickers: Your deadly drugs are not welcome here and we will work closely and innovatively with our on-shore and off-shore law enforcement partners to dismantle your operations.. Are you a deadset writing legend? They dropped the parcel off about 40 nautical miles west of Perths coast and over three days to 30 December, a shore party allegedly made three trips out to retrieve the package because they could not find it. The alleged ringleader, known as "The Kid", is one of six organised crime bosses being targeted by WA Police. He added that implementing collaborative and innovative strategies in police intelligence would be key to tackling future drug activity. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Please try again later. Shit happens.". Three men - aged 31, 32 and 35 - have been charged with importing the drugs and faced Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Every year we run public campaigns to highlight different ways that people can keep safe, report crime or be challenged about their own behaviour. The latest real-time news updates and headlines on drug. It was mostly unknown clients like the one bound for Jandakot who had booked the trips. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. This operation has enabled us to draw out those members of the syndicate who were equipped and prepared to receive and distribute a significant amount of illicit drugs within the community, who may have otherwise gone undetected and waited for the next consignment, the WA police commissioner, Col Blanch, said on Saturday. Joseph Davids, 32, Darren Dexter Fletcher, 35, and Reece Raymond Neil OConnor, 31, likely didn't learn the truth until they were hauled before court the next day.
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