The AFP has charged a Queensland man with allegedly trafficking more than 120kg of cocaine from Victoria to New South Wales disguised as frozen chicken products.
It will be alleged the man was involved in an attempt to transport cocaine from Melbourne to Sydney in a van loaded with frozen chickens in August 2022.
The Wacol man, 55, is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today (Friday, 3 May, 2024) where he will be charged with one count of trafficking in commercial quantities of controlled drugs, contrary to section 302.2(1) and section 11.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment.
The man was one of two Queensland men arrested and charged by the AFP in October 2022 for his alleged involvement in a money laundering syndicate responsible for laundering $4.5 million.
In 2022, investigators executed search warrants at addresses in Helensvale, Graceville, Bardon and Brisbane City as part of the investigation.
Officers seized $70,000 cash from two safes that were hidden under stairs and a cash counter at a Bardon premises while $160,000 cash was seized from a safe in Helensvale.
He was charged with conspiring to deal in the proceeds of general crime and at the time of dealing the value of the money or property was $1,000,000 or more, contrary to section 400.3(1B) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and section 11.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offence is 25 years' imprisonment.
That matter remains before the court.
