Latest news with #MorgenBlunden
7NEWS
29-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Hidden meth lab uncovered and dismantled in Sydney's west with over 100kg of meth-related products seized
A hidden meth lab has been uncovered and dismantled after Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized more than 100kg of meth-related products. The clandestine lab was discovered during a search of a Fairfield East home in Sydney's west on June 19. Inside, officers found 77kg of drug-impregnated materials, 39kg of pre-manufactured methamphetamine, 35kg of liquid allegedly containing meth, and more than 600 litres of waste material. Electronic devices were also seized and will undergo forensic examination. This is part of an ongoing investigation into a criminal syndicate that began in October 2023, when 27kg of meth concealed in blankets bound for Australia was found in the US. The shipment, which originated in South America and had an estimated street value of $25 million, was seized by US Customs and Border Protection, who then alerted the AFP. The AFP traced the consignment to a phone number allegedly linked to previous failed import attempts. In April last year, officers executed a search warrant at a Cabramatta property, seizing two devices linked to the attempted import. Meanwhile, another search was carried out at a Canley Vale home, where police seized an encrypted communication device. Further inquiries led investigators to the Fairfield East address, allegedly used by the syndicate, where the meth lab was uncovered. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said those behind the operation showed no concern for the harm caused by illicit drugs and were only motivated by greed and profit. 'The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day,' Blunden said. 'I want to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of all the AFP members involved in these investigations, from investigators and intelligence members to all of our other support capabilities. 'I also wish to thank our counterparts at NSW Police, in particular the Drug & Firearms Squad Chemical Operations team for their specialist and expert assistance in this matter.'
News.com.au
29-06-2025
- News.com.au
Police seize more than 100kg of meth in suburban drug lab bust
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have disrupted a criminal syndicate and busted their suburban meth lab in Sydney's west. The Fairfield East home was raided on 19 June, where investigators found a clandestine drug lab. In their search the AFP found 77kg of drug-impregnated materials, 39kg of pre-manufactured methamphetamine, and 35kg of liquid allegedly containing methamphetamine. The raid came after a lengthy probe into the syndicate, starting in October 2023. US Customs initially detected 27kg of meth headed to Australia concealed in blankets from South America, with intelligence passed on to AFP. It is alleged the blankets were saturated in the drug, and had an estimated street value of $25m. The smuggling attempt was linked to a phone number that had previously tried to smuggle drugs across the border. Following further investigations police searched two properties in Sydney's western suburbs in April last year. At a Cabramatta home police located two electronic devices, while at a Canley Vale house they located an encrypted communication device which police later examined. Police inquiries led their search to the Fairfield East home. Inquiries remain ongoing into the syndicate. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said that criminal groups are only motivated by greed and profit. 'The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day,' Superintendent Blunden said. 'I want to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of all the AFP members involved in these investigations, from investigators and intelligence members to all of our other support capabilities. 'I also wish to thank our counterparts at NSW Police, in particular the Drug & Firearms Squad Chemical Operations team for their specialist and expert assistance in this matter.' Images from the search of the Fairfield East home show tubs of alleged drugs, what appears to be a kitchen lab, and a red press. Electronic devices found at the home will be subject to further examination. No arrests or charges have been made at this time.
The Advertiser
21-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Botched 'dead drop' could land man in jail for life
From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "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." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase. From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "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." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase. From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "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." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase. From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "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." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase.
Sky News AU
21-06-2025
- Sky News AU
Double Bay man charged over attempted cocaine collection following AFP operation at multimillion-dollar home
A man has been charged over an alleged 30kg cocaine deal after he was arrested in an AFP-led raid in Double Bay. 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.
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Perth Now
Moment cops find stash of drugs, guns
A Sydney man has been charged for his alleged role in a US-based drug trafficking plot that imported about 50kg of cocaine and meth. In a pair of searches at homes in the Sydney suburbs of Condell Park and Padstow, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) say officers found more than $120,000 in cash, five balaclavas, 1kg of cocaine, and four pistols with ammunition. Video from the search of the Padstow home appears to show the supplies concealed in the ceiling of a child's bedroom, the wall adorned with colourful decals. The man is expected to face court on Thursday after police arrested him on the Gold Coast before extraditing him to NSW and charging him with offences including aiding and abetting the importation of a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs. Five balaclavas were among the items found by police. AFP Credit: Supplied The man was arrested as part of an extended operation that intercepted 24 separate shipments from the US allegedly containing illicit drugs. The shipments allegedly contained about 18kg of methamphetamine and 30kg of cocaine. The AFP has alleged that the man kept track of the packages while they were transited and attempted to collect them upon arrival in the country. He is also alleged to have laundered $125,000 for two other people. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said the man's alleged role in a drug trafficking plot damaged Australia's economy and healthcare system. 'The AFP and its law-enforcement partners share a common goal to protect our community by ensuring harmful drugs do not infiltrate our streets,' he said. 'This arrest should send a strong warning to criminals that if you participate in illegal activities, the AFP will apprehend and prosecute you.' A huge stash was found in the roof of a Padstow home. AFP Credit: Supplied The 24 attempted shipments were intercepted by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers over a three-month period. ABF Superintendent Asha Patwardhan said criminals tried to 'exploit any vulnerability' to import drugs into the country. 'ABF will continue to work closely with our border protection and law-enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle their deceitful business models,' Supt Patwardhan said.
