Media Release: Commercial airline employee arrested for importing narcotics
Release Date: Tuesday, July 10 2012, 11:55 AM
This is a joint media release between the AFP, NSW Police and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), New South Wales (NSW) Police Force and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service have disrupted an international drug syndicate allegedly responsible for importing narcotics into Australia via an international commercial airline through Sydney Airport.
A 37-year-old Blaxland man, employed by the airline at Sydney Airport, was charged yesterday (Monday, 9 July 2012) in Sydney for his alleged involvement in the syndicate.
It follows a joint investigation by the AFP and NSW Police Force into the activities of the Sydney-based syndicate allegedly responsible for distributing illegal drugs throughout NSW.
The man was monitored yesterday by the AFP and Customs and Border Protection after an international flight landed at Sydney Airport. The man was seen to remove a package from the aircraft shortly after its arrival, which he placed into his car.
Later in the day, the AFP apprehended the man at Sydney Airport. Officers searched his vehicle and found two blocks of a white substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine (approximately 1 kilogram), and a further quantity of white powder (approximately five kilograms), which tested positive for cocaine.
AFP officers subsequently executed a search warrant on the man’s Blaxland residence, where approximately $1.6 million in cash and a small quantity of tablets and cannabis were seized.
The AFP charged the man with two counts of importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, contrary to Section 307.1 Criminal Code 1995. He was remanded in custody to appear at Sydney Central Local Court today (Tuesday, 10 July 2012).
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment and/or an $825,000 fine.
In addition to this arrest, NSW Police arrested a 32-year-old man and a 31-year-old man yesterday for drug trafficking matters linked to activities of the syndicate.
They have each been charged with the commercial supply of a prohibited drug and refused bail, with the older man to face Parramatta Local Court and the younger man to face Blacktown Local Court.
Investigations are ongoing.
Yesterday’s arrests demonstrate these agencies ongoing commitment to co-operative policing measures against organised crime activities.
Media enquiries
AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333
NSW Police: (02) 8835 8339
Customs Media: (02) 6275 6793