Six men have been arrested – three in Australia and three in Britain – over their alleged involvement in an international syndicate importing drugs into NSW,after police allegedly found 125 kilograms of cocaine in the base of an industrial generator that arrived from the UK on Tuesday afternoon.
Police have arrested three men over their alleged involvement in an international syndicate importing drugs.
The discovery came as a result of a joint police investigation launched earlier this year between Australian and British police enforcement agencies.
Under Operation Phobetor,NSW Police combined forces with the Australian Federal Police,Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission,Australian Border Force and Britain’s Border Force and National Crime Agency.
Assisted by PolAir and Tactical Operations officers,on Tuesday afternoon Organised Crime Squad detectives raided a property in Cawdor,on Sydney’s south-western fringe,where officers allege they saw a number of individuals unloading the generator.
They then observed a Mercedes van and Pantech truck drive from the property and begin travelling north along the M7.
NSW Police say they have found 125 kilograms of cocaine,worth $50 million,in the base of an industrial generator.NSW Police
Police tried to stop the vehicles near Horsley Park,where it’s alleged the driver of the truck,32-year-old Daniel John Skaines,rammed the heavy vehicle into multiple police cars and kept driving.
Dramatic video taken from a police helicopter shows the moment police eventually stopped and surrounded both vehicles,dragging out Skaines and his alleged accomplices,Aaron James Pearce and Corey Benjamin Jones.
The three men were charged with an array of offences,including the importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and participating in criminal group activity.
Later in the evening,detectives executed a search warrant at a property in Lane Cove and a number of items were seized.
Three men have been arrested over their alleged roles in a global drug importation plot.
All three men appeared before Sydney courts on Wednesday. They did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
Meanwhile,across the globe,officers from Britain’s national crime agency executed a number of warrants in Rayleigh and South Ockendon in Essex,and Feltham in west London.
A 29-year-old man was arrested in Wickford,Essex,while a 43-year-old man was arrested at Much Hadham,Hertfordshire. A 42-year-old man was arrested in Romford,Essex.
“All were held on suspicion of conspiracy to export a controlled drug and are now being questioned by NCA officers,” a statement from NSW Police said.
Three men were arrested and $50 million of cocaine was allegedly seized during a global operation.NSW Police
NSW Police organised crime squad Commander Rob Critchlow said police were “very pleased with the result” but the investigation continues and more properties are to be searched in coming weeks.
“This was clearly a highly co-ordinated syndicate who have gone to extreme efforts both here and in Europe to ensure their shipment of drugs arrived uninhibited,” he said on Wednesday.
“This is a major operation involving international partners which has produced great success.
“Our intelligence sharing capabilities both here and overseas has resulted in the complete devastation of this criminal enterprise.”
With AAP
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