Double Bay man charged over attempted cocaine collection following AFP operation at multimillion-dollar home
The Australian Federal Police had been investigating since March intelligence concerning an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate targeting Australia.
The man was the alleged intended recipient of a 30kg cocaine importation into New South Wales from a criminal syndicate offshore.
He allegedly attended a 'dead drop' in Alexandria on Friday, about 5km from the Sydney CBD, where he was expecting the importation, but the AFP executed a "controlled delivery" and placed 30kg of an inert substance in the package.
"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," the AFP said in a statement.
Later on Friday, police conducted a raid on a multimillion-dollar home in Double Bay and a nearby unit, where he was arrested after a brief pursuit down the road.
The items seized from the two properties allegedly include multiple encrypted mobile devices, a sports bag which contains the substitute material, and an amount of anabolic steroids.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said anyone connected to drug trafficking activity in any way was committing a crime.
'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.'
The 40-year-old man was set to appear before Parramatta Local Court at some point on Saturday, 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).
He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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