May 29th 2024.
In 2017, two men were sentenced to almost two decades in jail for their involvement in a major drug smuggling operation in Sydney. This particular bust was one of the largest in Australian history at the time, with a total of 1.28 tonnes of cocaine being seized. It was a massive win for the Australian Federal Police, who had been working tirelessly on Operation Amorgos since the previous year. The operation was launched after a shipment of prefabricated steel from China was intercepted by Australian Border Force officers in Sydney.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the steel contained over 2,500 blocks of cocaine, with a street value of approximately $500 million. This was a shocking revelation, as the purity of the cocaine was found to be at a staggering 78%. It was clear that this was a highly organized and lucrative criminal enterprise.
The investigation was a long and arduous one, spanning over nine months and involving collaboration with international authorities. Eventually, three Australian nationals were detained by Serbian authorities and extradited back to Australia to face trial for their involvement in the importation.
On April 19, 2024, a 40-year-old man who had been residing in Dubai was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison. Just a few weeks later, on May 3, 2024, a 53-year-old man from New South Wales was also sentenced, receiving a maximum of 19 years behind bars. These sentences came after a 49-year-old man from New South Wales was already sentenced to 27 years in prison for his part in the criminal enterprise in March of 2020.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto praised the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the investigation, saying, "It involved countless hours of tireless work and perseverance. The collaboration between the AFP and our international law enforcement partners was crucial in disrupting this criminal venture." He went on to stress the importance of this ongoing collaboration in order to dismantle such syndicates and keep the Australian community safe.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Claire Rees of the Australian Border Force also emphasized the importance of disrupting criminals attempting to import illicit drugs, stating, "We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the Australian community and remove harmful drugs from our streets." Despite the efforts of organized criminals, the ABF remains committed to their mission of keeping Australia safe. The successful bust and subsequent convictions of those involved serve as a powerful reminder of the relentless determination of Australian law enforcement to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice.
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