A Double Bay man is scheduled to face court today (21 June, 2025) charged with attempting to possess 30kg of cocaine following an AFP operation which spanned Sydney's inner city.
The man, 40, is expected to appear before Parramatta Local Court charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The AFP investigation began in March, 2025, following intelligence concerning an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate targeting Australia.
The Double Bay man was allegedly an intended recipient of a cocaine importation facilitated by the criminal syndicate offshore.
On 20 June, 2025, it is alleged the man attended a 'dead drop' in Alexandria to collect what he believed was 30kg of cocaine imported into New South Wales by the syndicate. However, the AFP had intervened and executed a controlled delivery, placing 30kg of an inert substance in the package.
Dead drops are a secret location where items such as cash and illicit drugs are left for other people to collect.
The AFP will allege the man removed a sports bag containing the 30kg of the substitute material from a parked van in Alexandria and then returned to his home in Double Bay.
Two search warrants were then executed on a Double Bay home and a nearby unit shortly after. He was arrested by AFP officers following a short foot pursuit down the road.
It is alleged the items seized from the home and unit include multiple encrypted mobile devices, the sports bag containing inert substitute material and an amount of anabolic steroids.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said anyone involved in drug trafficking was committing a crime, irrespective of where they sat in a criminal syndicate's hierarchy.
"The AFP has successfully disrupted a significant drug trafficking syndicate's operations thanks to this investigation," Det Supt Blunden said.
"30kg of cocaine has an estimated street value of $9.7 million and would have equated to about 150,000 street level deals.".
"This result should serve as a serious warning to potential drug traffickers in Australia - don't get comfortable - because the AFP is constantly working to target and disrupt your criminal operations and bring you to justice."
