Media Release
AFP’s calendar year of crime-fighting: How the AFP combatted crime in NSW in 2024
Investigators from AFP’s Eastern Command have struck at the heart of international crime syndicates in 2024, disrupting criminals who allegedly committed large-scale drug importation, money laundering and child abuse material-related offences in NSW.
The AFP’s Eastern Command, which operates across NSW, executed a series of major operations which led to the disruption of major transnational crime syndicates in 2024. As a result, dozens of individuals were charged, millions of dollars’ worth of criminal proceeds were seized and hundreds of kilograms of border-controlled drugs stopped from entering Australia.
Notable investigations include the arrest of a man over an alleged plot to import 896kg of methamphetamine into Sydney (Operation Alstonville), the arrest of the alleged principal of a human trafficking syndicate responsible for trafficking women from Indonesia to Sydney for sex work (Operation Mirani) and charges laid against a Sydney man relating to the seizure of the largest shipment of ‘pink cocaine’ ever destined for Australia.
AFP Eastern Command Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the dedication and commitment of investigators had resulted in a significant impact on serious organised crime groups seeking to commit crime in Australia.
“The unrelenting dedication by AFP Eastern Command to disrupt and dismantle serious organised crime on Australian shores highlights the commitment of our investigators to protect Australians from illegal activity and the criminal elements of our society,” Assistant Commissioner Dametto said.
“This success does not come overnight. It is the result of dedicated policing and strong relationships with law enforcement partners, which has led to a high number of complex investigations into criminal syndicates and high-value criminal targets.
“The AFP’s Eastern Command is proud of its work in protecting countless Australians from being the victims of organised crime.”
Assistant Commissioner Dametto said AFP Eastern Command’s consistent operational success sent a clear message to organised criminals living the high life in NSW – we will be targeting you.
“Let the results across the past 12 months serve as a warning to criminals who wish to put at risk Australia’s way of life – we are ready to act and disrupt your criminal activities, together with our law enforcement partners,” he said.
“I want to acknowledge all the AFP members who have been involved in these operations - from investigators, intelligence members, tech experts and all other support capabilities.
It has been a significant 12-month period for the AFP’s Eastern Command, beginning in December, 2023, with the arrest of a man who allegedly abused a child known to him and uploaded child abuse material online. The man was initially charged with 66 offences, which has since increased to 206 offences.
In February, two Polish nationals were charged with allegedly attempting to possess 300kg of MDMA and 70kg of ketamine from a Box Hill storage unit, following an investigation known as Operation Brick.
In March, the AFP charged an Australian man and Dutch national for their alleged roles in a plot to import 600kg of cocaine in ‘fruit kiosks’ seized at Sydney’s container examination facility.
In May, AFP’s Eastern Command issued a public warning of the serious consequences of 1,4 Butanediol importations following a change in legislation which saw it defined as a border-controlled drug in March, 2024. Since the change in legislation, more than 4200L of this dangerous substance – which the body converts to GHB when ingested – has been seized by law enforcement authorities in NSW.
In July, a complex human trafficking investigation, known as Operation Mirani, saw the arrest of the alleged principal of an organised crime syndicate which profited from human trafficking between Indonesia and Australia. The AFP removed seven potential victims from sexual exploitation as a result of this operation. Two further men, aged 30 and 37, have been charged as a result of the investigation.
In the same month, AFP Eastern Command investigators arrested two men over their alleged involvement in a transnational crime syndicate which imported 211kg of cocaine and 30kg of ketamine into Sydney.
In August, a man was arrested for his alleged role in a plot to import 896kg of methamphetamine in industrial machinery into Sydney in August, following an investigation known as Operation Alstonville.
In November, investigators attached to AFP Eastern Command arrested a Sydney man for his alleged involvement in a plot to import 252kg of a dangerous illicit drug cocktail, known as ‘pink cocaine’, into Australia by international air cargo. This was the largest-ever seizure of a shipment of this substance destined for Australia.
In the same month, investigators charged four men and dismantled an organised crime syndicate suspected of laundering more than $10 million of criminal proceeds.
