460kg of cocaine seized and two arrests
Editor’s note: Vision and audio grabs from AFP Inspector Chris Colley are available via Hightail
The AFP has charged two foreign nationals over their alleged involvement in a plot to import more than 460kg of cocaine into Western Australia from Colombia.
The AFP has been working with the United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to investigate a transnational drug trafficking syndicate targeting Australia.
As part of the investigation, the AFP arrested a man and woman after they allegedly collected about 100kg of purported cocaine from a storage unit in Belmont in late May and took the packages to a residence in Perth’s northern suburbs.
The AFP executed a search warrant at the northern suburbs’ home, which was short-term rental accommodation, and allegedly found the packages from the consignment as well as cocaine purity tests.
The man, a French national, 30, and the woman, a Swiss national, 27, are expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court next Friday (14 July, 2023) each charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment.
The pair was arrested on 1 June, 2023, and first appeared in court on 2 June, 2023.
AFP Inspector Chris Colley said it would be alleged the man and woman had arrived in Australia in mid-May and police were investigating if they had flown in solely to help distribute the drugs.
The 460kg of cocaine seized by police during the investigation was contained within 398 plastic-wrapped packages.
This amount of cocaine could have been sold as 2.3 million individual deals (0.2g each), for a total of about $184 million, which would have diverted that money from the legitimate economy.
Inspector Colley said this operation was unfolding at the same time as the AFP worked with State and Federal partners to prevent another 850kg of cocaine being imported via WA and distributed to Australian communities by a different organised crime syndicate.
“Transnational serious organised crime is a national security threat and the illicit drugs TSOC groups supply to Australia make our communities less safe,” he said.
“Territorial drug disputes spill into suburbs and put innocent people at risk, drug-affected drivers are a menace on the roads and the money spent on illicit drugs diverts millions of dollars from the legitimate economy.
“That is why the AFP works closely with law enforcement and intelligence partners locally and internationally to disrupt these groups that seek to harm Australians and profit at the expense of our communities.”
The investigation is ongoing to identify everyone involved in Australia and South America.
Note to media:
Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.
- For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
- Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at www.counsellingonline.org.au.
- For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to www.turningpoint.org.au.
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