Media Release
Seven men charged by MAST for allegedly using trusted insiders to import over 300kg of illicit drugs
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police Force
Editor’s note: Vision of the arrest is available via Hightail.
Seven men have been charged with drug importation offences following a Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) investigation into trusted insiders importing illicit drugs into Sydney.
The MAST is made up of 41 officers from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
The MAST – using investigators and analysts from both Commonwealth and NSW law enforcement agencies – leverages the capabilities, resources and legislative powers to investigate and target trusted insiders who are assisting transnational serious organised crime syndicates impacting NSW.
In September 2023, investigators established Strike Force Aulic to investigate the importation and supply of large quantities of prohibited drugs and illicit tobacco by a 42-year-old man and his associates, who were allegedly purporting to have the ability to circumvent border controls.
It was further established the 42-year-old man was using a freight forwarding company in Punchbowl to facilitate the importation of these drugs.
In July 2024, police located more than 280kg of liquid methamphetamine in an industrial cooler imported from Vancouver, Canada, allegedly organised by the 42-year-old man.
On Monday 5 August 2024, two men, aged 43 and 31, were allegedly observed accessing the cooler and preparing to extract the liquid methamphetamine at a location in Riverstone.
Police arrested the 43-year-old man at a fast-food restaurant in Londonderry about 7pm that evening. It was alleged he was involved in the preparation to extract the liquid methamphetamine.
A subsequent search warrant was executed in Londonderry, where police located and seized gel blasters, a methamphetamine cookbook, and other items consistent with drug manufacture and supply.
The 43-year-old was taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with 17 offences, including attempted possession of a commercial quantity of an unlawful import: border controlled drug, 13 counts of possess unauthorised pistol, firearm etc found at premises-subject to prohibition order, and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared in Penrith Local Court on 6 August, 2024.
During another search warrant in Box Hill on 5 August, 2024 – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – MAST investigators arrested a 31-year-old man.
He was taken to The Hills Police Station, where he was charged with participate in a criminal group and granted conditional bail. He appeared in Parramatta Local Court on 4 September, 2024.
Police continued to investigate the 42-year-old man, who allegedly continued to use the freight forwarding company to import three separate consignments, containing more than 20 million cigarettes from the United Arab Emirates.
In May 2025, MAST investigators established the man was planning to important 50kg of cocaine in a shipping container from Panama, concealed in cement bags.
It will be further alleged the 42-year-old sought the assistance from two men – who flew in from Canada – to retrieve the cocaine from the cement bags and onward supply it to organised crime groups in NSW.
About 2pm on Friday (30 May, 2025), MAST investigators arrested four men in Wetherill Park and executed six search warrants in Moorebank, Punchbowl, Smithfield, Doonside and Mt Annan.
The men were taken to Fairfield Police Station, where the 42-year-old man was charged with three counts of importing large quantities of tobacco, two counts of attempted import commercial quantity of border controlled drug, intend as instrument of crime, money/property => $50,000, deal with proceeds of indictable crime-money/property >=$100000, knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group and participate in a criminal group.
The man was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday (1 June, 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 31 July, 2025.
Another 42-year-old man was charged with attempt to import commercial quantity of border controlled drug and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday (1 June, 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday (5 June, 2025).
The two Canadian nationals, aged 24 and 31, were both charged with attempt to possess commercial quantity unlawful import: border controlled drug, and participate in a criminal group.
They were refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday (1 June, 2025), where they were formally refused bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 13 June, 2025.
During the searches, police located and seized a number of significant items, including 243 boxes of tobacco at two storage facilities at Moorebank.
As a result of further inquiries, MAST detectives arrested a 36-year-old man at Sydney Airport at about 6.50pm on Saturday (31 May, 2025).
He was taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with importing large quantities of tobacco and participating in a criminal group.
The man was refused bail and appeared in Downing Centre Local Court yesterday (2 June, 2025).
