News Centre

This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force

Editor’s Note: Vision and images are available via Hightail.

A western Sydney man is expected to face Parramatta Local Court today (16 November, 2024) charged for his alleged role in orchestrating the importation of 237kg of MDMA.

The AFP arrested the man, 47, at Sydney International Airport yesterday evening (15 November, 2024) on his return to Australia.

The investigation, named Operation Casarabe, began in November 2023 after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted a routine inspection of a shipping container on arrival to Australia from Germany.

An examination of the shipment, purporting to be new car parts, revealed 237kg of MDMA concealed within 12 boxes of the consignment.

The ABF alerted the AFP, with officers removing the illicit drugs before the consignment was released for delivery under police surveillance.

The consignment was delivered to a western Sydney logistics facility on behalf of a company administered by the man.

AFP officers attended the man’s Meadowbank home in November 2023, where he allegedly claimed to have arranged the importation of car parts on behalf of another person. It will be alleged in court that the person nominated was not real and was a manufactured identity.

In May 2024, police executed a search warrant at the Meadowbank home. Investigators seized a number of electronic devices which were subject to further forensic examination.

It will be alleged the examination of the devices resulted in investigators obtaining evidence to link the man to the 2023 importation, and to the manufactured identity used to arrange it.

AFP officers allegedly discovered a concealed compartment within one of the man’s vehicles. Investigators located a dedicated encrypted communications device in this compartment.

The AFP will also allege evidence found during the search warrant linked the email address used to coordinate the shipment to the man and to offshore cryptocurrency accounts.

 AFP investigators arrested the man yesterday (15 November, 2024) on his return to Australia and located and seized about $576,000 in cryptocurrency, suspected to be proceeds of crime.  He was subsequently charged with:

• One count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely MDMA, contrary to section 307.1(1) by virtue of section 11.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• One count of dealing with suspected proceeds of indictable crime greater than $100,000, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
• One count of possess a dedicated encrypted criminal communication device, contrary to subsection 192P(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

AFP Acting Superintendent Stuart Millen said the evidence to support these charges came as a result of a clinical and dedicated investigation.

“The lengths this individual allegedly went through to import this insidious substance shows the extremes criminal groups will go to in search of profits,” Det a/Supt Millen said.

"Criminals do not care about the harm they cause, and our investigative teams are resolute in bringing those responsible before the courts.

“The AFP and partners are committed to protecting the community from the scourge of drugs and to targeting individuals who seek to profit from the illicit trade.”

ABF Acting Superintendent Marc Rea said this significant detection could have resulted in the cosmetic drug market being flooded with tens of millions of individual street deals.

“ABF officers immediately observed anomalies within the consignment, with the goods not matching the described and declared items. On further inspection, the alleged illicit drugs were uncovered, with the syndicate attempting little to no concealment methods,” a/Supt Rea said.

“This shows how criminal syndicates are only interested in profits and have a blatant disregard for our border controls and the harm these drugs pose to the community.

“MDMA capsules and tablets are often cut with various other toxic agents and dangerous illicit substances. In such a large quantity could have resulted in tens of thousands of lives being put at risk.

“The ABF will continue to work with the AFP and our state and territory law enforcement partners to disrupt the importation of prohibited drugs, in turn working together to target the overall supply and demand chain.”

Note to media

Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.

• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online.
• For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to the Turning Point website.