A New South Wales man has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Western Australia for his involvement in a crime syndicate trafficking illicit drugs and cash between Sydney and Perth.
The Perth District Court sentenced the man, 35, on 6 March, 2026, for one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of an offence, namely trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to sections 11.2(1) and 302.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The man will be released after he serves one year in custody, before entering a recognisance order to be of good behaviour for three years.
The man pleaded guilty in October, 2025, to aiding another NSW man, who was jailed in WA in May, 2025, for his more significant role in the illicit enterprise. The AFP arrested the men in Perth in September, 2022, as part of Operation Phobetor, an investigation into a criminal syndicate suspected of trafficking illicit drugs and criminal profits between NSW and WA and using air tags to monitor the movements of the illicit goods.
Operation Phobetor involved the AFP, NSW Police Force (NSWPF) and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
In September, 2022, NSWP advised that two air tags had been located at a Malaga warehouse in WA. While the AFP was executing a search warrant at the premises, the NSW men arrived.
During the search, AFP officers seized 5.7kg of methamphetamine in packages in two toolboxes, $622,330 in a cardboard box, a cash counter, and other items related to drug supply.
Forensic testing on the 5.7kg found it was almost 80 per cent pure methamphetamine, which amounted to 4.5kg of pure methamphetamine that could be sold as about 57,000 individual street deals of 0.1g.
The 35-year-old man had flown to Perth from Sydney the day before his arrest and both men had visited the Malaga warehouse several times.
His role in the operation was to organise the Malaga warehouse, which was used as a base to store the methamphetamine for sale.
AFP Acting Inspector Dave Blockley said anyone involved in drug trafficking syndicates contributed to exploitation and harm in the community and this matter showed that however big or small their role in the syndicate might be, they could be prosecuted and jailed.
"The man convicted on this occasion could be considered a minor player in the group, but each member of a syndicate plays a vital role in facilitating the offending," a/Insp Blockley said.
"Don't ruin your life by becoming caught up in criminal groups- in this case this man is spending time in custody on the other side of the country to his support network.
"Methamphetamine can tear the community apart because of the devastating harm it causes to individuals and families, and anyone involved in using it.
"The AFP and its partners remain committed to disrupting criminal groups who are driven by greed and a vicious desire to flood the community with illicit drugs."
NSWPF State Crime Command Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said this outcome demonstrated the strength of interstate cooperation in dismantling criminal networks.
"The NSW Police Force remains committed to working with our national and international partners to target anyone involved in organised criminal activity," Det Supt Faux said.
"This operation is a clear example that borders do not protect offenders - if you traffic drugs or criminal profits across jurisdictions, you will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
"The harm caused by prohibited drugs is significant and far‑reaching. NSW Police will continue to use every capability and resource available to disrupt those who seek to distribute these substances into our communities."
