Four charged over $8.4 million heroin haul

This is a joint Media Release between the AFP, Customs and the New South Wales Police.

Three people will face court in Sydney and Wollongong today after 28 kilograms of heroin, bound for the streets of New South Wales, was seized by a joint-agency taskforce.

A fourth man is expected to face court in Adelaide on Tuesday.

The operation, which included members of the NSW Police Force, NSW Crime Commission, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Customs, has dismantled an alleged international drug syndicate.

A 57-year-old Shellharbour man, two Sydney men aged 54 and 48 and a 43-year-old Adelaide man were charged with importing and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of heroin.

It will be alleged in court that the syndicate concealed 69 packages of heroin inside the tops of three wooden chests of drawers. The chests were inside a consignment of wooden furniture.

Acting on intelligence from NSW Police Force’s Special Crime Unit, Customs officers detected the concealment, which was bound for an Adelaide address. Customs officers examined the container in Sydney on 22 February.

Over the past three weeks, taskforce members have monitored the delivery to premises in Adelaide and subsequently to an address in Shellharbour NSW.

Yesterday search warrants were executed at premises in Camden Park, Adelaide, Southport, Queensland and in Sydney, Pyrmont, Kings Cross, Rosebery, Fishing Point, Albion Park Rail and Barrack Heights in NSW.

Police arrested the four men and seized in excess of $1.5 million in cash.

AFP National Manager Border and International Tim Morris said the arrests highlighted the cooperation between state, federal and overseas law enforcement in combating international drug smuggling.

“This arrest has stopped heroin with a potential value of $8.4 million from reaching Australia’s streets and disrupted an organised illegal drug importation racket,” Assistant Commissioner Morris said.

NSW Police Force Professional Standards Branch Commander Paul Carey praised all officers involved in uncovering and disrupting the importation, saying it served as a timely warning to anyone considering dealing in illegal drugs.

“We’re watching you, we’ll detect you, we will arrest you and you will face the full force of the law. Be warned, law enforcement agencies across Australia will continue to work together to combat illegal drugs on our streets,” Assistant Commissioner Carey said.

Customs Regional Director NSW Gail Batman said officers at the Customs container examination facility at Port Botany were able to locate the drugs which had been craftily concealed within the furniture.

“Our officers have a depth of experience now in assessing suspect cargo and being able to detect hidden drugs. In this case, the officers drilled into the wooden structures to confirm the presence of the heroin.”

The Shellharbour man will appear in Wollongong Magistrates Court today and the two Sydney men will appear in Sydney Central Local Court today.

The Adelaide man is expected to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment and/or an $825,000 fine.

Media inquiries:

Customs Media (02) 6275 6793

NSW Police Force Media 0428 436 419