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11 July 2022, 2:31pm
Media Release

Authorities put brakes on $24 million cocaine tyre import

This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and Department of Home Affairs

Editor’s Note: Arrest vision and photographs available via Hightail

The AFP has charged four West Australians during an investigation into a transnational drug trafficking syndicate after 66 kilograms of cocaine – worth about $23.7 million ­‑ was seized in Perth.

Operation Dommeldange was launched late last month (June 2022) when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly found the cocaine hidden in four car tyres imported from Switzerland.

ABF officers at the Perth cargo facility detected anomalies when they x-rayed the air cargo consignment and further examination of the Mercedes-Benz performance wheels allegedly uncovered packages of white powder stuffed in behind the rims.

The consignment was transferred to the AFP and forensic specialists established there was 56 packages containing a total of about 66 kilograms of cocaine. The drugs were replaced with a harmless substance before the tyres were released for collection.

Police will allege the consignment was addressed to a Northbridge property but a person claiming to be the intended recipient instead arranged for a courier to deliver the tyres to a Nollamara residence last week (5 July 2022).

The consignment was stored in the garage for two days before a man and woman who live at the home, along with two other men, allegedly used a variety of tools and knives to cut apart the car tyres and access the black plastic-wrapped packages inside.

AFP investigators, with the assistance of ABF officers, executed a search warrant at the Nollamara residence on Friday (8 July) and arrested the couple.

They also executed a search warrant at a nearby Balcatta home, where they arrested two male residents and allegedly seized parts of one tyre with a knife stuck in it.

AFP Western Command Detective Superintendent Graeme Marshall said organised crime syndicates used a never-ending variety of methods to try to smuggle large amounts of drugs into Australia without detection because it was such a lucrative business.

“This case is a warning to organised crime that Western Australia is not an easy target – the AFP is working closely with our partners to stop illicit drugs from reaching our communities and prosecute anyone who tries to profit at the public’s expense,” Detective Superintendent Marshall said.

“This is the second large importation of cocaine seized in WA in just two months. “There is a perception by some in the community that cocaine is a safe drug. It is not.

Just as importantly, the transnational serious organised criminals who target Australia are undermining our national security, economy and social security system.

“This amount of cocaine could have been worth almost $24 million if sold in 1 gram street deals – the investigation has prevented that money from going into the pockets of criminals.”

Australian Border Force Commander Operations West, James Copeman, said the ABF would continue to thwart the efforts of criminals at the border and stop them in their tracks.

“Our officers work tirelessly to stop illicit drugs for entering Australia, no matter where they may be concealed,” Commander Copeman said.  

“The ABF knows about the creative ways criminals will use to attempt to smuggle illicit and prohibited goods into Australia.

“This is another great result, thanks to our close relationships with our partner agencies.”

ACIC Acting Executive Director Intelligence Operations Thomas Hester said: “Using our four pillars of core collection capabilities—coercive powers, technical intelligence, human intelligence and data analytics—we support our partners to make Australia a hostile place for criminal syndicates and to combat the supply of these dangerous drugs.

The accused have each been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).  The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment.

One Balcatta man, 58, was expected to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court today (11 July 2022).

The Nollamara couple – a man, 57, and woman, 49, - and the other Balcatta man, aged 46, are expected to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court on Friday (15 July 2022) after being remanded in custody during a brief hearing on 9 July.

Media enquiries:

AFP National Media: (02) 5126 9297

ABF Media: (02) 6264 2211

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.

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  • Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at www.counsellingonline.org.au.
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