A western Sydney man is expected to face Parramatta Local Court today (9 May, 2025) following an AFP investigation into the alleged importation of 237kg of MDMA from Germany.
The Doonside man, 44, is the third person charged under Operation Casarabe, an AFP investigation that launched in November, 2023, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers detected MDMA concealed in a shipping container.
The AFP had previously charged two brothers, a 47-year-old Meadowbank man and a 39-year-old Wetherill Park man, with drug importation offences related to the MDMA. They remain before the courts.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the AFP executed search warrants at a Doonside home and Mount Druitt business linked to the Doonside man in November, 2024. They found:
- Four mobile phones, including one dedicated encrypted communication device;
- $158,000 in cash;
- 14,975 disposable vapes;
- 5.6 litres of vaping liquid; and
- 40 tins of nicotine capsules.
The AFP will allege the Doonside man's dedicated encrypted device contained multiple messages from the Wetherill Park man arranging logistics to collect another mobile phone used to facilitate the 237kg MDMA importation.
The Doonside man's encrypted device was allegedly found next to his mobile phone at his Mount Druitt business. Investigators accessed the device using the same passcode that opened the man's mobile phone.
The Doonside man attended Blacktown police station on 10 April, 2025, and was charged with:
- One count of possessing a dedicated encrypted communication device to commit serious criminal activity, contrary to section 192P of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment;
- One count of deal with money reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, valued $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment;
- One count possessing more than 1000 times the commercial quantity or more of vaping goods, contrary to section 41QC(7) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment or a fine of 5000 penalty units, or both; and
- One count of possessing a commercial quantity, but less than 100 times the commercial quantity, of vaping goods contrary to section 41QC(1) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (NSW) which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or a fine of 1000 penalty units, or both.
AFP Detective acting Superintendent Stuart Millen said it was a timely reminder to all criminal syndicates of the tenacity of investigators to identify and prosecute anyone involved with the drug trade.
"Our message to criminal groups is the AFP and our partners will be unyielding in our efforts to protect the community from the harm caused by illicit drugs, and associated criminal behaviour," Det a/Supt Millen said.
"Criminals do not care about the devastating impacts these insidious substances can have on the community.
"Our investigative teams remain committed to protecting Australians from the scourge of drugs and are resolute in bringing those responsible before the courts."
ABF Superintendent Jared Leighton said last financial year, the ABF made 1269 detections of MDMA at the border.
"It is often the work of ABF officers at the border that leads to significant outcomes including arrests and charges such as these," Superintendent Leighton said.
