Trans-Tasman teamwork sinks major cocaine syndicate

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

An anti-drug operation spanning Australia and New Zealand yesterday resulted in the arrest of two men for conspiring to smuggle approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine on board two cargo ships bound for Australia.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police and Customs yesterday swooped on a number of locations in Sydney and on the Central Coast, arresting a 66-year-old man from The Entrance and a 28-year-old Mona Vale man at their respective homes in connection with the drugs, which have a street value of around $6.75 million.

The arrests in Australia and seizure of 27 kilograms of the drug in New Zealand have been hailed as another example of the close cooperation between both countries' border and law enforcement agencies.

The operation began in June this year when New Zealand Customs Service officers recovered 18.3 kilograms of cocaine concealed on the exterior of the vessel MV Tampa as it arrived in Auckland Harbour. The vessel was bound for Australia.

New Zealand Customs Service Group Manager, Investigations and Response, Paul Campbell, said the drugs and the metal pod containing them were removed by New Zealand Customs Officers from the MV Tampa before it left Auckland, and information passed on to the Australian authorities.

Australian Customs and the AFP monitored the MV Tampa as it passed through Australian waters in July and the NSW Police Special Crime Unit identified a number of persons of interest.

New Zealand Customs Service officers then searched a second ship, the MV Taronga, when it berthed in Auckland in late September. They found 8.7 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the same manner as the earlier shipment.

New Zealand and Australian authorities believed the drugs were destined for the Australian market. There is no suggestion the shipping line or any of its employees were involved.

This led to a major intelligence and surveillance operation involving the AFP, Australian Customs, NSW Police, Victoria Police, Queensland Police and WA Police.

The MV Taronga sailed from Auckland to Brisbane, before arriving in Sydney’s Darling Harbour on Thursday, 5 October. The same persons of interest who came to the attention of authorities during the MV Tampa’s journey were identified again as the MV Taronga docked in Sydney.

AFP National Manager Border and International Network, Tim Morris, said inquiries were continuing with international law enforcement partners in New Zealand and South America to determine the origin of the drugs.

“This joint operation has meant a significant amount of a dangerous drug will not reach the streets, and it has disrupted a sophisticated and well-resourced criminal enterprise,” Federal Agent Morris said.

Australian Customs Deputy Chief Executive John Drury said this was an excellent example of how important it was for Australian and international law enforcement agencies to work together to combat transnational crime.

“An operation of this scale, stretching from New Zealand to Australia, required considerable resources and assets from several state police agencies, and both Customs agencies,” Mr Drury said.

Superintendent Ian Foscholo from the NSW Police Special Crime Unit said the liaison between the agencies during this investigation was crucial to its success.

"It is pleasing to me personally that an operation of this magnitude has reached a successful conclusion, due in no small part to the investigative abilities of and resources available to the men and women of the NSW Police Force," Superintendent Foscholo said.

Mr Campbell said the New Zealand Customs Service had a long-established post in Sydney to deal with trans-Tasman issues.

"This operation has shown how invaluable this position is," he said.

The 66-year-old man is expected to face Wyong Local Court today, while the 28-year-old man is set to appear before Sydney Central Local Court.

They were each charged with one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Media enquiries

New Zealand Customs Service Communications + 00 64 4 462 0294

Australia Customs Corporate Communication (02) 6275 6793

AFP National Media (02) 6275 7100

NSW Police Media (02) 8263 6100

Media conference

A media conference with the AFP, NSW Police and Customs will be held at Customs House, 10 Cooks River Drive, Sydney International Airport, at 1pm AEST.

Images

Will be available for download in the Media Room at www.customs.gov.au and from www.afp.gov.au from 1pm AEST.