Visit our website at www.afp.gov.au for all the latest information on the Australian Federal Police
3
June 2008
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.
Visit our website at www.afp.gov.au for all the latest information on the Australian Federal Police
“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.
Media enquiries
AFP National Media Team
Phone: (02) 6275 7100
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