Three Sydney men have been charged over an alleged plot to import more than half a tonne of cocaine through the city’s ports.
Since April, a multi-agency strike force led by the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police has been investigating a criminal syndicate that was believed to have members working inside Sydney ports to help smuggle drugs into the country.
The strike force received intelligence that a group was allegedly planning to remove a drug stash from an imported shipping container at a sea freight facility in Sydney.
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The container had entered Australia carrying legitimate cargo, which had since been delivered.
A Hillsdale man, 38, who worked as a forklift driver, was allegedly seen moving shipping containers around the facility to access a particular container, at about 12.30 am on Sunday.
A short time later, police allege they saw another man with a bag enter that shipping container.
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Investigators arrested that man, a 25-year-old from Oyster Bay, and allegedly found his bag contained a crowbar, angle grinder, ear protection, portable lights and other tools.
Police allege the man was going to cut into a false wall at the rear of the container.
Investigators removed the false wall and found 506 blocks of white powder in a cavity covered in lead sheeting.
The contents tested positive for cocaine.
Police claimed the 506kg haul would have been worth more than $164 million on the street and could have filled more than 2.5 million street deals.
A short time later, the Hillsdale man returned to the container and was also arrested, police say.
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Both men were charged with multiple serious drug offences that could result in a life sentence if they are convicted.
A short time later, police carried out a search warrant at the Hillsdale man’s home, and arrested a 42-year-old Caringbah man who was leaving the property.
Police allege the man was carrying $200,000 in cash that was suspected as being illicitly gained.
The man also worked as a forklift driver for a logistics company.
He was charged with dealing with the suspected proceeds of crime.
Police also searched the Oyster Bay man’s house, where they allegedly seized a further $130,000 in cash.
In court yesterday, the Hillsdale and Oyster Bay men were refused bail and will return to court on October 29.
The Caringbah man was granted bail and will also return to court on October 29.
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