A 33-year-old Sydney man is scheduled to appear before Sydney Central Local Court today (Thursday, 21 November 2019) after being extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for allegedly conspiring and attempting to import a commercial quantity of narcotics into Australia in 2017.
The Dubai Police Anti-Narcotics Unit in the UAE detained the man on 8 August 2017. He was extradited from Dubai and arrived into Sydney this morning.
Operation Veyda was an Australian Federal Police (AFP) led investigation that began in 2016 with assistance from New South Wales Police, resulting in the arrest of 18 people, the seizure of more than 1.9 tonnes of narcotics (MDMA, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine) and the dismantling of two interconnected organised crime syndicates operating across Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands.
Previously-released details about Operation Veyda can be found online:
- International organised crime syndicates dismantled, 17 arrested;
- Further arrest in relation to Operation Veyda.
The AFP will allege the then 30-year-old Picnic Point man was part of an organised crime syndicate arranging for the attempted importation of border controlled drugs in cargo container shipments into Australia.
He is scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today, charged with:
- Three counts of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs - contrary to Section 307.1 and 11.5(1) - Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
- Three counts of attempting to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs - contrary to Section 307.1, and 11.1(1) - Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
The Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department worked on the extradition process to ensure the man arrived into Australia to face the drug-related charges.
AFP Commander Organised Crime Kirsty Schofield said this extradition sends a clear message to organised criminal groups - no matter where you are in the world, you are not out of reach.
"The AFP maintains strong working relationships with international law enforcement partners to tackle transnational organised crime," Commander Schofield said.
"We know the crippling effect illegal drugs, including MDMA, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine have on our communities. Stopping these drugs from entering our shores is a high priority for the AFP.
"The AFP and its international law enforcement partners, including its Emirati policing partner will continue to create a hostile environment for organised crime groups to ensure these harmful drugs do not reach our communities.
"The AFP thanks the United Arab Emirates for its commitment to combatting transnational organised crime, its assistance throughout this extradition process and its ongoing support of Operation Veyda."
