Two Sydney men have been sentenced by the Parramatta District Court yesterday (21 July, 2025) for their roles in a brazen and failed 42kg cocaine importation in July 2023, which could have had an estimated street value of $13 million.
A Greystanes man was given a maximum combined sentence of seven years' imprisonment for two offences. He will be eligible for parole in July, 2028. A Bundeena man was sentenced to four years' and three months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and one month.
The result follows the sentencing of the men's co-conspirators in March, 2025.
The AFP's Operation Dory was launched in July, 2023, after Australian Border Force officers detected 42 blocks of white powder concealed in the engine of a refrigerated container which arrived into Port Botany, NSW, on a ship from Panama.
Forensic testing of the powder confirmed it was cocaine. AFP investigators removed the cocaine and replaced it with an inert substance.
A few days later, three men were captured on security footage breaking into the logistics park where the container was stored. They transferred the substituted packages into black bags.
Police arrested the three men a short time later on a nearby street, including the Bundeena man.
The Greystanes man, who was driving the vehicle used for the heist, was arrested soon after in Port Botany.
The men, now aged 22 and 30, pleaded guilty in late 2024 to:
- One count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307,1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The Greystanes man also pleaded guilty to one count of supplying a prohibited drug not less than a large commercial quantity, contrary to section 25(2) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act (NSW).
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Paul Watt said illicit drugs caused immense harm to users, their families and the wider community.
"Criminals are motivated by greed and are indifferent to the harm they cause to our community - we're proud to have prevented up to $13 million going into their pockets," Det a/Insp Watt said.
"No matter how elaborate or creative these attempts are, the AFP and our partners work tirelessly every day to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking.
"This result should be a warning for anyone involved in drug trafficking; if you're a cog in a criminal syndicate's wheel, we will come after you."
ABF Inspector Noleen Shankar said today's sentencing was another example of unlawful actions being exposed and brought to justice.
"We know criminals will use creative and risky tactics in attempts to smuggle illicit drugs into the country, and our message is: it won't work," Insp Shankar said.
"Our officers are highly trained, their detection methodologies advanced, and our information networks are strong - Australia's border is well protected."
