The Western Australia Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (WA JOCTF) has charged a Perth man with allegedly importing about 185kg of methamphetamine and a conspiracy to steal $300,000 cash in a foiled roadside armed robbery.
The Doubleview man, 35, has been charged with four offences and will next appear in Perth Magistrates Court on 27 August, 2025.
The man's alleged accomplice in the armed robbery plot and the two targets of the plot, who were allegedly attempting to smuggle illicit cash out of WA, have also been charged as part of the WA JOCTF's Operation Estevan.
The WA JOCTF combines the resources and capabilities of the AFP, Western Australia Police Force (WAPF), Australian Border Force (ABF), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and AUSTRAC, to target transnational serious organised criminals causing harm in WA and across Australia.
Operation Estevan was started to investigate a failed plot to import 185kg of methamphetamine, after ABF officers found the illicit drugs in December, 2024, hidden in bags of rice in a consignment sent by sea from Pakistan.
It expanded into a "threat to life" investigation this month (August, 2025) after the WA JOCTF became aware of the alleged planned armed robbery.
The WA JOCTF had been investigating the Doubleview man after allegedly linking him to the organisation of the illicit methamphetamine consignment.
Authorities then allegedly discovered this man and an accomplice were plotting to rob a vehicle at gunpoint to steal about $300,000 of suspected illicit cash before it was smuggled out of WA.
Police acted quickly to disrupt the robbery before anyone was placed in danger.
On 5 August, 2025, the AFP and WAPF intercepted two vehicles in the outer Perth suburb of Wooroloo, each with two occupants.
The alleged armed robbers - the 35-year-old and another Perth man, also 35 - were in a van with a loaded handgun, gloves and dedicated encrypted communications devices.
The two people allegedly smuggling cash out of WA - a man, 32, and woman, 35, both from Victoria - were stopped nearby in an SUV and found with about $300,000 cash in vacuum-sealed bags stored in a hidden compartment in the boot of the vehicle. They were also arrested.
Police will allege the Perth duo had placed a tracking device on the Victorian pair's SUV and planned to intercept them at gunpoint on a roadside in WA and steal the cash, which is suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The Doubleview man has been charged with three offences over the alleged planned cash heist, as well as a charge for allegedly importing the 185kg of methamphetamine. If convicted of the drug importation, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
A Gwelup man, 35, has also been charged for his alleged role in the armed robbery conspiracy, while the two Victorians have been charged over the alleged illicit cash.
As part of ongoing Operation Estevan inquiries, WA JOCTF executed a search warrant at a Nollamara home yesterday (21 August), where they found a .22 handgun, a sawn-off shotgun, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, knuckledusters and prohibited knives. Investigators also seized about 1kg of cannabis, 1 gram of methamphetamine, oxycodone and fentanyl medication and electronic devices.
A Nollamara man, 32, has been charged with five offences.
Operation Estevan remains ongoing and police have not ruled out further arrests.
The five charged under Operation Estevan are among eight alleged offenders charged after three separate WA JOCTF investigations since January, 2025.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Pryce Scanlan said the JOCTF's mission was to prevent organised crime syndicates from infiltrating Western Australia's supply chains and trafficking illicit commodities into WA and elsewhere in Australia.
"These criminals threaten Australia's safety and security when they corrupt supply chains, import illicit drugs or other commodities, and divert millions of dollars from the legitimate economy," Assistant Commissioner Scanlan said.
"At a local level the damage they cause is evident in the road toll, the pressure on our healthcare system, and the risk to public safety - the alleged plan to use a loaded firearm to rob someone on the roadside shows a callous disregard for innocent members of the public.
"The WA JOCTF is committed to keeping our communities safe and that includes disrupting criminals who are preying on Australia from overseas.
"The combination of capability, resources and international partnerships in the JOCTF should send a warning to organised crime that we are unwavering in our determination to stop them exploiting our communities and nowhere is safe for them to hide."
WA Police Force Assistant Commissioner (State Crime) Tony Longhorn said Operation Estevan highlighted the links between the illicit drug trade and violent crimes in the community.
Mr Longhorn thanked community members for providing information that helped to progress Operation Estevan.
"The seized methylamphetamine had the potential to cause immense harm to community members," Mr Longhorn said.
"The alleged plot to rob accused money couriers of $300,000 cash also shows the level of violence these criminals are prepared to use in their trade - and innocent community members could have quite easily become caught up in that violence.
"Removing these drugs from our neighbourhoods and intervening in violent associated crimes is a big win for the Western Australian community - and a product of strong working relationships between law enforcement agencies."
ABF Assistant Commissioner Chris Waters said these recent arrests demonstrated the ongoing effectiveness of the WA JOCTF in disrupting organised criminal activity within the state.
"ABF officers are the first layer of protection at the Australian border and as part of the WA JOCTF we are absolutely determined to protect the community from organised crime and the illicit drug trade," Assistant Commissioner Waters said.
"We also work closely with industry involved in the shipping of goods into Australia, they can play a crucial role by identifying suspicious activity, and information shared in this case helped to achieve this outstanding result."
ACIC acting Executive Director Anita van Hilst emphasised the critical role of the WA JOCTF.
"The ACIC works closely with partners to disrupt the highest threat criminal networks. These serious and organised crime groups rely heavily on profits from illicit activities to sustain their operations," Ms van Hilst said.
"We will continue to disrupt the operations of these groups, denying them the ability to profit and making Australia a hostile environment for them to operate in."
AUSTRAC National Manager Law Enforcement, Anthony Helmond, said Australia's illicit drug trade generated around $13bn in profit each year and multi-agency efforts were needed to counter the criminal networks controlling the trade.
"Getting drugs off the market and dirty cash out of circulation before it is laundered means we can avert further harm such as reinvestment back into more crime," Mr Helmond said.
"The collective capabilities of the WA JOCTF was key to allowing the identification of the alleged perpetrators and the interdiction measures, ensuring the matter can be brought to the courts."
Anyone else with information about drug activity is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Operation Estevan charges:
Doubleview man, 35:
- One count of imported a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
- One count of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, contrary to section 558(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment;
- One count of unlawful possession of a firearm, contrary to section 214 of the Firearms Act 2024 (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment; and
- One count of received, possessed, concealed, disposed of, or dealt with any money or other property that is the proceeds of an offence, contrary to section 563A(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
Gwelup man, 35:
- One count of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, contrary to section 558(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment;
- One count of unlawful possession of a firearm, contrary to section 214 of the Firearms Act 2024 (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment; and
- One count of received, possessed, concealed, disposed of or dealt with any money or other property that is the proceeds of an offence, contrary to section 563A(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
The Victorian man and woman were also each charged with one count of received, possessed, concealed, disposed of or dealt with any money or other property that is the proceeds of an offence, contrary to section 563A(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
The Nollamara man, 32, will first appear in court on 8 September, 2025, for.
- One count of unlawfully possessed a handgun, prohibited firearm, or major part of a handgun or prohibited firearm, contrary to section 214 of the Firearms Act 2024 (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment;
- One count of unlawfully possessed a firearm or major firearm part, contrary to section 213 of the Firearms Act 2024 (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment;
- Two counts of possessed or acquired ammunition while not being authorised by a licence or permit, contrary to section 241 of the Firearms Act 2024 (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment; and
- One count of fail to obey a data access order, contrary to section 61 (2) of the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
Other matters:
Operation Mac Dolan
A Coffin Cheaters Outlaw Motorcycle Gang member, 41, and an associate, 34, have been charged after they were caught allegedly collecting 30kg of methamphetamine from Perth bushland earlier this month (August, 2025).
As part of an investigation into an alleged organised crime syndicate in Perth, the WA JOCTF arrested two men as they allegedly collected a plastic tub from a secluded area in Hopeland on 11 August, 2025.
Police found about 30kg of methamphetamine in tea packaging in the tub and seized a hessian bag from the men that contained a shovel, night vision equipment, gloves and a dedicated encrypted communications device.
Both men have been charged with one count of possessed a trafficable quantity of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply it to another, contrary to section 6(1)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act (WA).
The men first appeared in Rockingham Magistrates Court on 12 August and have been remanded in custody. The 41-year-old is expected to appear in court again on 5 September, while the other man is next expected to face court on 22 September.
Operation Verwood
The WA JOCTF charged a Sydney man in February, 2025, with allegedly attempting to import about 15kg of methamphetamine into Australia, concealed in wooden furniture.
An investigation was launched after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers found the illicit drugs on 27 January, 2025, during an examination of a shipping container, which had arrived in Fremantle from South Africa.
The consignment, declared as wooden African chairs and tables, was allegedly addressed to a fictitious business in the Perth CBD.
An examination identified several plastic packages - each containing a crystallised substance - inside the legs of the chairs and tables, which subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine.
That amount of methamphetamine could have been sold as about 150,000 individual 0.1 gram street deals, with an estimated street value of close to $14 million.
The illicit drugs were replaced with an inert substance, before the furniture was released for collection.
On 31 January, 2025, the Sydney man allegedly collected the consignment from a freight forwarder.
Police were monitoring the man as he allegedly repackaged the consignment and took it to a courier business for transport to the eastern states.
WA JOCTF investigators arrested the man shortly after, seized two mobile phones and retrieved the consignment.
Police will allege the man flew into Perth from Sydney on 30 January, 2025, to facilitate the transportation of the illicit drugs.
He was charged with one count of attempt to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). He is next expected to face Perth Magistrates Court on 29 August, 2025.
