Two men have been charged with drug importation offences following an AFP and NSW Police Force Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) investigation into trusted insiders smuggling illicit drugs into Sydney on commercial flights from overseas.
A MAST investigation started in January, 2025, following intelligence provided by a foreign law enforcement agency about a drug trafficking syndicate allegedly using trusted insiders to conceal quantities of cocaine on international commercial flights destined for Australia.
On 17 March, 2025, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched a commercial international flight and found six 1kg packages of cocaine (6kg in total) wrapped in duct tape hidden on the aircraft.
A 23-year-old man from Narara, on the NSW Central Coast, was allegedly observed by MAST investigators collecting the consignment on 19 March, 2025, before travelling to Gosford, where he was stopped by police.
The man allegedly told officers the suitcase contained plaster. MAST investigators will allege he had opened the suitcase and handled the substitute material.
He was charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth), by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
The man first appeared at Gosford Local Court on 20 March, 2025, where he was remanded in custody. He is next expected to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 11 June, 2025.
A second man, 34, of Hardys Bay, NSW was stopped by NSW Police Force Highway Patrol near Kempsey on 27 March, 2025, and charged with unlawfully import a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth), by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
The MAST will allege the 34-year-old man was the Australian-based organiser of the failed drug importation.
He first appeared at Taree Local Court on 27 March, 2025, where he was remanded in custody. He is expected to appear at Gosford Local Court on 30 May, 2025.
Inquiries are ongoing.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the MAST was committed to identifying serious criminals who used trusted insiders to enable the flow of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, into NSW and Australia.
"Criminals are motivated by greed and will use any means to import harmful drugs into Australia to make a profit, at the expense of Australians and their health," Assistant Commissioner Dametto said.
"Illicit drugs cause immense harm to users and their families and make our communities less safe.
"No matter how elaborate or creative the attempts are, the AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to prevent airports and aircraft being used by trusted insiders as part of the criminal supply chain."
NSW Police Force Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein, from State Crime Command, acknowledged the pivotal role trusted insiders played in the illicit drug supply chain.
"We know that trusted insiders play a crucial role in the illicit drug supply chain in our country. These individuals abuse their positions to facilitate criminal activity and targeting them through MAST is essential to protecting our communities from the scourge of drugs."
ABF East Acting Assistant Commissioner Rose Cracknell said collaboration and information sharing between all agencies gave law enforcement the upper hand when it came to identifying trusted insiders.
"Criminal entities will look for any vulnerability to exploit Australia's border controls, and we all must work together to disrupt their deceitful business model," a/Assistant Commissioner Cracknell said.
"ABF officers around the country detect and investigate gaps in the supply chain, working closely with our law enforcement, regulatory, and industry partners - both here in Australia and overseas - to target those organised crime networks whose sole purpose is to advance their illicit drug trafficking ventures."
The MAST has 40 full-time investigators and analysts, and leverages the capabilities and resources from the other MAST law enforcement partners which include the ABF, AUSTRAC, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Taxation Office.
The MAST is focused on targeting contractors, or public or private officials, who are on the payroll of organised crime. Known as trusted insiders, these double-dealing employees unlawfully access information such as security or operational details, or use subterfuge, to help organised crime.
Seven individuals have been charged under three separate investigations since the MAST launched in November, 2024.
Identifying and charging double-dealing employees is a key blow to organised criminals and their enterprises, which can be severely weakened when they lose their criminal insiders.
As NSW continues to be ground zero for Australia's illicit drug importations, the MAST will target those who are working on the inside for organised crime. Up to 59 per cent of all illicit drugs trafficked into Australia are funnelled into NSW, and mostly into Sydney.
