Global operation cracks top criminal drug syndicate

A two-year Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation spanning three continents has culminated in the arrest of 15 people and the dismantling of a criminal syndicate involved in the global production and distribution of narcotics.

The highly-sensitive investigation – unprecedented in its complexity and multi-jurisdictional coordination – has required more than 250 officers from law enforcement agencies in Australia, The Netherlands, Pakistan and Thailand to combine efforts to crack the sophisticated syndicate which has been responsible for the global distribution of hundreds of kilograms of drugs.

Following the arrests of 12 people in The Netherlands last week, the Royal Thai Police arrested a principal in Bangkok on Saturday and Federal Police yesterday arrested two men believed to be the Australian connection to the syndicate.

The operation undertaken by the Dutch National Crime Squad involved more than 150 of their elite special forces and uncovered the masterminds of the syndicate, who have been high-profile targets for more than two years.

Australia will now seek the extradition of the 49-year-old British man from Bangkok on 17 separate serious drug importation and distribution related offences.

It will be alleged that the Sydney men were part of an international conspiracy planning to illegally import 600 kilograms of the precursor chemical pseudoephedrine, with the potential to produce more than $120 million worth of methamphetamine (Ice).

A 51-year-old Sydney man arrested in the operation is a senior investigator with the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC).

The man was identified as a person of interest by the AFP in May 2007 and it will be alleged in court that he used his position at the NSWCC to provide advice to the syndicate on law enforcement methods and to gather information on Australian drug enforcement activities.

Since July 2007, the AFP and the NSWCC have been jointly investigating the man's alleged involvement in the syndicate.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations Tony Negus said the joint operation’s success was a testament to the effectiveness of cooperation between police agencies and their ability to cripple the illegal operations of international crime syndicates.

“The disruption law enforcement agencies have caused to this network cannot be underestimated. Taking out of the equation both the principals and their distribution networks will help disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics around the globe,” Deputy Commissioner Negus said.

“This has been a highly intricate and complex investigation which has had to be covertly undertaken because of the parties allegedly involved. The ability to coordinate this across multiple agencies, jurisdictions and legal systems has been unprecedented,” he said.

It will be alleged the men had conspired to import the precursor chemicals into Australia via a complex supply route passing through and involving people in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Sub-Continent.

According to the AFP’s Drug Harm Index, a successful importation of the chemicals for production would have cost the community more than $140 million in the provision of treatment, social services and policing if they had reached Australian streets.

A 45-year-old Sydney man was arrested at a house in Maroota and the 51-year-old man was arrested at the offices of the NSWCC in Kent Street, Sydney.

The men will appear at Sydney Central Local Court on Tuesday, 3 June 2008.

They were late last night charged with:

• Conspiracy to supply a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug contrary to section 25(2) and 26 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act (NSW) 1985,
• Conspiracy to import into Australia a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor contrary to section 307.11 and section 11.5(1) of the Criminal Code 1995; and
• Conspiracy to defeat justice, contrary to section 42 of the Crimes Act 1914.

The maximum penalties for these offences are life imprisonment and/or a $660,000 fine, 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine and five years imprisonment.