A Sydney man, alleged to be the coordinator of a network of trusted insiders inside Australia's cargo ports, has been charged by the Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) in relation to multiple plots to import up to one tonne of illicit drugs over an eight-month period.
The MAST - made up of investigators from the AFP and NSW Police Force (NSWPF) - works directly with law enforcement partners from the Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Australian Taxation Office (ATO), to target trusted insiders.
The man, 29, is scheduled to appear before Liverpool Local Court today (22 May, 2026).
In April, 2025, the MAST established Strike Force Paiporta to target a criminal syndicate alleged to have members working inside Port Botany to facilitate the importation of commercial quantities of illicit drugs.
The 29-year-old came to the MAST's attention after five alleged trusted insiders, who worked at Port Botany in different positions, were charged for their roles in a failed 506kg cocaine importation in August, 2025.
MAST investigators seized their electronic devices, which were subjected to forensic examination.
MAST inquiries into encrypted communication applications on the devices led to the identification of a user who instructed trusted insiders operating in Port Botany to locate, possess or make attempts to possess illicit drugs imported in shipping containers and later stored at freight facilities.
MAST investigators allegedly identified the 29-year-old as the user of the encrypted applications instructing the trusted insiders.
It will be alleged the man paid trusted insiders at Port Botany up to $200,000 in cash, depending on their role, for accessing illicit drugs from shipping containers.
This includes:
- 20kg of cocaine hidden inside a consignment declared as 'mixed berries' from Santiago, Chile, in February, 2025;
- 140kg of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated consignment containing fresh flowers from Colombia in April, 2025;
- More than 120kg of illicit drugs concealed under the floorboards of a shipping container from Jamaica in June, 2025;
- 58kg of cocaine concealed within two black bags in a container from Chile in August, 2025;
- 506kg of cocaine from Europe concealed behind a false wall in August 2025; and
- More than 35kg of cocaine hidden inside a motor housing container from South America in October, 2025.
Police will also allege the man coordinated the failed 506kg cocaine importation from August, 2025, while he was located in Victoria. The MAST continues to work with European law enforcement partners to identify other individuals involved.
The alleged 58kg cocaine plot from Chile was the subject of a Chilean Investigative Police investigation, which the MAST provided assistance to. The cocaine was detected and removed prior to its arrival in Australia, and six people have since been arrested in Chile for their alleged roles in this plot.
It will be alleged the trusted insider network used 'piggybacking' and 'rip' tactics where legitimate high-volume importers were targeted, and drugs placed into the body or structure of shipping containers without their knowledge at either the originating or transit port.
The illicit drugs would then be removed by trusted insiders once the container arrived at the port, or after the legitimate cargo had been dispatched and the container returned to the freight facility for storage if concealed in the structure of the container.
Search warrants were executed in the Sydney suburbs of Holsworthy, North Parramatta and St Marys on 19 May, 2026, where MAST investigators seized electronic devices, high-value jewellery, a cryptocurrency ledger, a swipe card and two vehicles.
The man was charged with:
- Four counts of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of aiding and abetting the possession of a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of possessing a commercial quantity of unlawfully an imported border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of dealing with proceeds of crime, money worth $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.4 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of dealing with proceeds of crime, money worth $50,000 or more, contrary to section 400.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of aiding and abetting dealing in proceeds of crime, money or property worth $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.4 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of failing to comply with a court order, contrary to section 3LA(6) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).
He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
The man was refused police bail and remanded into custody to appear in court today.
Police inquiries remain ongoing and further charges have not been ruled out.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said trusted insider networks were calculated and coordinated, but they were outmatched by the expertise and persistence of MAST investigators.
"The AFP and its MAST partners have successfully disrupted a trusted insider network and will continue to pursue those who enable the flow of harmful drugs into our community," Det-Supt Fogarty said.
"Organised crime groups will look for any avenue to exploit Australia's gateways, but the MAST is alive to their tactics, and ready to use bring these offenders before the courts.
"Anyone who is enticed to act as a trusted insider and abuse their position should think twice - the reward is not worth the risk."
NSWPF State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson, said MAST continued to be the point of difference in our fight against organised crime.
"The results in this operation demonstrate the strength of our partnerships and the power of true collaboration," Det Supt Watson said.
"MAST gives us the capability to stay ahead through a unique, multi‑agency model that can track and disrupt transnational syndicates no matter where they operate.
"These outcomes reflect what can be achieved when we work together to protect Australia's borders and our community."
Transnational Serious Organised Crime and Trusted Insiders
Transnational serious organised crime (TSOC) groups are focused on finding 'a door' into Australia to import and move their illicit commodities.
A trusted insider is any person who, through their employment or association with a supply chain business, uses their access to goods, systems, or premises for malicious purposes to facilitate TSOC-related activities without law enforcement detection.
Trusted insiders are very valuable and highly sought by TSOC groups. They act as key enablers to compromise the supply chain and allow illicit goods into Australia, causing harm to NSW communities.
How the MAST approach is different to other law enforcement strategies
The MAST is a different approach to disrupting TSOC groups by targeting the trusted insiders to 'close the door into Australia'. The MAST is commodity agnostic- the use of positions of trust within the supply chain to enable TSOC groups to bring illicit goods into Australia falls under the remit of the MAST.
Traditional police investigations focus on the illicit commodity, its origin and destination or the person or group sending or receiving. The MAST tracks how the illicit commodity was able to bypass border controls, identify the vulnerabilities exploited and close the door preventing future exploitation by TSOC groups.
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