Four men will face court today charged over their alleged roles in the importation of more than 5kg of cocaine from Peru to Sydney.
On Monday 3 December 2018, a consignment containing wooden ornaments arrived in Sydney from Peru. The consignment was x-rayed by Australian Border Force (ABF) in Sydney and officers noted anomalies in the packed crates.
The shipment was deconstructed, and presumptive testing returned positive results for cocaine with a total weight of 5.3kg.
ABF officers referred the matter to NSW Police Force, and the cocaine, which has an estimated potential street value of $2 million, was seized for further forensic analysis.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad and Blacktown Police Area Command subsequently established Strike Force Moolana to investigate the importation.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 58-year-old man at a licensed club at Bossley Park about 1pm yesterday (Tuesday 8 January 2019).
The man and his vehicle were searched, with a small amount of cocaine seized, before he was taken to Fairfield Police Station.
Shortly after the arrest, strike Force Moolana detectives, assisted by the Public Order and Riot Squad, executed search warrants at homes at Bossley Park, Bligh Park, Green Valley, and Wetherill Park.
During the searches, police seized more than $115,000 cash, cocaine, a brown substance, which is believed to have been used in drug extraction; a firearm barrel, computers, electronic storage devices, mobile phones, and documentation.
Three further men – aged 44, 52, and 70 – were arrested during the operation and taken to local police stations.
The 58-year-old Bossley Park man was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, large commercial drug supply, possess prohibited drug, and deal with proceeds of crime.
The 44-year-old Wetherill Park man was charged with large commercial drug supply and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The 52-year-old Bligh Park man was charged with knowingly take part in large commercial drug supply and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The 70-year-old Green Valley man was charged with knowingly take part in large commercial drug supply and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
All the men were refused bail to appear at local courts later today (Wednesday 9 January 2019).
Anyone with information in relation to the importation, manufacture, or supply of prohibited drugs is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
