We had members from New South Wales, Northern Territory and one from the United States and we will allege that they were here to retrieve that 2.4 tonnes of cocaine and distribute it amongst our country. September 14, 2021 - 7:32PM NCA NewsWire Police have arrested 19 people and seized $7 million in cash in a massive drug sting in Western Australia. A police investigation would later reveal Micalizzi was a drug runner for the Comancheros, a middleman in an international drug syndicate led by Turkish-Australian gym junkie Hakan Ayik. Blanch said this was an extraordinary job by the people involved but said it was not over. Tue, 25 April 2023 3:52PM. The men face a potential life sentence if convicted. All times AEST (GMT +10). Joseph Davids, 32, Darren Dexter Fletcher, 35, and Reece Raymond Neil OConnor, 31, likely didn't learn the truth until they were hauled before court the next day. Auto news:2022 Maserati SUV lineup due by the end of the year - drive.com.au, Your web browser is no longer supported. Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup. 266266 Western Australia Police confirmed today that under the cover of darkness, a sophisticated sting to take down a Mexican drug cartel eyeing an Australian market was undertaken. Officers search the black sports bag containing nearly $8 million worth of drugs stored in the cargo hold. And so we think theres more people in Western Australia, conducting activity thats related to this seizure, he said. Credit: 7NEWS/supplied Best Perth pubs for pre-footy beers or a cheeky cocktail, West Australian Newspapers Limited 2023. Assistant Commissioner Copeman said ABF officers had seized about 5.2 tonnes of meth at Australian borders through 1,745 detections in the 2020-21 financial year. Those packages were then dropped in the ocean, 80 kilometres off WA. 17 people have been charged, over 20 million dollars of assets have been seized. 'Okay, without being fantastic': Alan Joyce's legacy after 15 years at the helm of Qantas. Campaigns. 'Life will never be the same': MasterChef stars post tributes to Jock, Fatal flaw in escape from infamous island prison, Push to extend 'really popular' $100 voucher for NSW parents, Man denied bail after allegedly stealing Nick Kyrgios' Tesla, holding mum at gunpoint. A total of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine was stopped from entering our shores and 12 people were arrested in the largest bust in Australian history. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Police search an area of river in Caversham as part of Operation Kingston Destiny. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said officers had been watching the fake drugs for two days using drones and officers on the ground when they spotted one vessel, the Catalina, trying to find the illegal cargo. Midland Detectives are investigating an attempted aggravated armed robbery that occurred on Sunday 23 April 2023, in Beechboro. Australian Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner West James Copeman said this had been a 'significant detection' by officers using 'sophisticated technology'. The alleged ringleader, known as "The Kid", is one of six organised crime bosses being targeted by WA Police. The party rode out in uncomfortable conditions in two vessels, Catalina and Cool Runnings both of which ran into trouble. The 41-year-old Scarborough man was teaching at a Catholic college in the city's northeast when he allegedly recorded four female students in his class. A tactical police officer guards a . The next part of the footage shows officers speaking with two of the suspects before it switches to police airwing vision of the Catalina towing Cool Runnings away from the shore. Theyre people that are vulnerable and they get enticed by these drug syndicates to get involved. Are you a deadset writing legend? Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Police seized 6kg of methylamphetamine and more than $59,000 cash from a vehicle and properties in suburban Perth last Sunday. Ellenbrook drug bust: Three people charged after 7.3kg of cannabis seized and more than $200,000 in cash Brianna Dugan The West Australian Wed, 14 September 2022 4:43PM Three people have been charged with a string of offences after police allegedly busted them with more than seven kilograms of cannabis and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. This was an opportunity to catch the syndicate, the group of people that were capable of receiving it, landing it and then distributing it across Australia. Confused by the 'sustainability' label on your favourite can of tuna? Operation Beech kicked off in November after Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized a record 2.4 tonnes of cocaine allegedly bound for Australia off the South American coast. Police said the 99kg ofmeth - estimated to be worth about $100million - could have been sold to a million people in individual street deals. Cool Runnings had issues with steering and washed ashore south of Moore River. But after the deal fell through, Mr Pavlinovic, who buys and sells everything from jet engines to power tools, dismantled the plane to sell it for parts to the highest bidder. Twenty-six people, including six from Perth County, are facing numerous charges after a massive drug bust earlier this week. This operation has enabled us to draw out those members of the syndicate who were equipped and prepared to receive and distribute a significant amount of illicit drugs within the community, who may have otherwise gone undetected and waited for the next consignment, the WA police commissioner, Col Blanch, said on Saturday. queensland 12:17pm Apr 29, 2023 120kg of cocaine found inside shipping container by ABF But until now, its role in one of the biggest law enforcement operations in Australian history has remained a mystery. Regular chances to win incredible prizes like luxury getaways and sports tickets with our subscriber exclusive competitions. Arrests such as these should serve as a stark reminder of the life changing repercussions associated with drug dealing, Caulfield Divisional Response Unit (DRU) Acting Detective Sergeant Wes Yarnton said. Western Australian Police seized a small vessel on 28 December, with intelligence suggesting that alleged members of the syndicate were unaware and still expecting to receive the shipment. Eight-week-old puppy's leg amputated after being thrown against wall. RBT and Booze Bus Locations - for all other road stuff, speed, handhelds etc, Perth Revenue Raisers They charged a 39-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman they say are connected to the syndicate. The West Australian can reveal police have charged Perth DJ Shivan Arasu-Dahl, 32, with a range of offences after a major operation was launched last October by the drug and firearm squad. Nov 14, 2022 9:46 AM OPP officers executed a search warrant at a home in Perth on Thursday, Nov. 10, seizing drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, Hydromorphone, unidentified pills and $1200.. How much extra could mortgage repayments be, now the cash rate is 3.85 per cent? It was March 5, 2008. Border Force officers were first alerted to the delivery when a 550kg shipment of latex pillows arrived in Fremantle on a container ship on December 17. WA Police have seized 33 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50,000 pillsallegedly found hidden under a bed in a motorhome after it entered the state. WA PoliceCommissioner Chris Dawson said another 45-year-old Victorian man, Mohammed Charif Oueida, was"the principal person behind this particular importation into Western Australia". WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the methamphetamine was the equivalent of 330,000 "hits". On New Years Eve police made a series of further arrests, charging nine other people in East Perth, Scarborough, West Perth and Rivervale. RECAP: Heres what a year of hikes has done to repayments, Karate expert carrying injury before unsolved death, Scheming son jailed after conning $150k off his father, Kyrgios mum held at gunpoint, car stolen, Appeal rejected for teen who killed couple, unborn baby, Alleged accomplice to gangland murder to stay in jail. Western Australias new police commissioner has used his first press conference to provide details about an alleged organised-crime drugs sting, which included the seizure of cars and gold bullion. Drug and firearm squad detectives executed a search warrant at a house on Fantail Crescent in Ellenbrook late on Thursday night. Operation Hoffman, a sting designed by Australia's most secretive and powerful law enforcement agency, the Australian Crime Commission, would topple a billion-dollar empire extending across two continents and send a drug lord into hiding. "WA is an attractive coastline because they think they won't be detected, it's such a large space, with very few people but they do not understand the capability of WA police," Blanch said. Ayik, then in his early 30s, had made a fortune by forging alliances with Chinese triads, Indian chemical suppliers, the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang and known underworld figures to create a multi-billion dollar international drug syndicate spanning across continents. "The jury didn't buy it, I was found guilty at trial and got 15 years. A police investigation into the bust later uncovered more than 100 messages and calls between Micalizzi and two syndicate figures named 'Oz' and 'Bowa', a fake NSW driver's licence, three mobile numbers registered under false names and $9000 in cash. Santos reckons airport workers tipped off the police during one of the fuel stops, when Micalizzi refused to leave the aircraft despite airport protocol. An alleged plot to smuggle 99kg of meth into Australia came to a dramatic end when the getaway van crashed into police car. Police seize firearms, vehicles and drugs in Operation Ironside. Teen loses appeal against sentence for hit-and-run killing of Queensland couple and their unborn baby, Endurance swimmer known as 'King of the Channel' dies during triathlon, German zoo welcomes first polar bear cub in 21 years, Natascha Lechner died minutes after using frog poison in 'Kambo' vomiting ritual, inquest told, Households tally rising grocery bills as interest rates climb again, Police officer in hospital after being hit by garbage truck in Launceston, Sick 4yo boy left without pillow at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital, opposition says, ACT cycling group suggests lowering speed limit to 30kph in Canberra's suburbs. Our job is to protect this community and well go after whoever seeks to harm us.. Emily Moulton and Shannon Hampton Operation Beech How alleged Mexican cartel-linked syndicate came unstuck Midland Detectives are investigating an attempted aggravated armed robbery that occurred on Sunday 23 April 2023, in Beechboro. Fake cocaine used to lure suspects in Australia's biggest-ever drugs bust, Police dropped fake cocaine into the water. Sitting at Acacia Prisons crowded visitor room, he says it all began with a phone call from a client looking for a plane ride from Bankstown, in Sydneys south-west, to Jandakot. The dozen alleged offenders already arrested come from the US, NSW and the Northern Territory. Six men will be charged over the importation of nearly $50 million of cocaine supplied by a Mexican drug cartel. Are you a deadset writing legend? Border officers found substance stuffed inside pillows shipped to Australia. The 1970s Aztec Piper no longer sits at Jandakot Airport. So you can see the benefit in the cartels and offshore syndicates in that they dont need to get a great deal through, so they flood our borders because its worthwhile to them.. The WA drug bust that changed Australian law enforcement forever For years, it sat on the tarmac at a general airport 20 kilometres south of Perth. On Saturday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch revealed how local and international officers outwitted cartels who attempted to bring the countrys biggest-ever stash of drugs onshore via Perth beaches, replacing the cocaine with plaster of paris before swooping on the alleged smugglers. Australian Federal Police have charged four people after seizing eight kilograms of methamphetamine during an investigation into a suspected Vietnamese drug trafficking syndicate in Perth. Key points: Mohammed Charif Oueida is one of three people charged over the bust Police allege Mr Oueida is the principal person behind the operation Its buyer, a former 747 Qantas pilot and mining, military and medical industries surplus trader, planned to donate it to a Jandakot-based tertiary education centre to train prospective engineers in disassembling aeroplanes. Young offenders are 'running amok' in Alice Springs. So were working very closely, offshore, with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Homeland Security Investigations, on who thought it was a good idea to send drugs to Western Australia, because we wont tolerate that in this state. Mohammed Charif Oueida caught up in huge drug bust as WA police seize 33kg of methamphetamine at border, Keep up with the latest ASX and business news. He said the estimated cost of the drugs entering the West Australian community would have been $22.65 million through crime, increased healthcare and justice costs, and loss of productivity. Six men and one woman were charged following. Police say importers are looking to exploit high prices for the drug in WA, where supply has been disrupted by Covid-19 border restrictions. The twin-engine plane, which miraculously survived a cyclone in Darwin in 1974, had been used to operate a freight charter service in Central Queensland and sight-seeing tours over the Great Barrier Reef until 1990. It was given to the Australian Federal Police for testing, coming back as positive to meth. WA Police have seized 33 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50,000 pills allegedly found hidden under a bed in a motorhome after it entered the state. A handcuffed Santos assists police searching the plane at Jandakot Airport. Three men - aged 31, 32 and 35 - have been charged with importing the drugs and faced Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Police seized 6kg of methylamphetamine and more than $59,000 cash from a vehicle and properties in suburban Perth last Sunday. I say that its a magnificent effort to defend our shores, to defend our country from the threat of organised crime, Blanch said. WA cops crack cartels mega $1b drug shipment. The WA drug bust that changed Australian law enforcement forever. The meth was replaced with a harmless substance and repacked before the cargo was released to be collected and the sting was on. "Turn the engine off and get out of the aircraft.". The comments below have not been moderated, By The plane that spurred the downfall of one of Australia's largest drug syndicates was sold at auction in May. Credit:Nine News. and stop a billion dollar bounty from reaching Aussies shores. Authorities sensationally carried out Australia's biggest ever organised crime bust on Tuesday. Extraordinary footage of the biggest drug bust in Australian history which resulted in WA Police arresting a dozen people with alleged links to a Mexican drug cartel off our beautiful but hostile coast has been released. News. Also contained in the vision is the moment officers retrieve the fake cocaine from the Catalina at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia We say we go after those who supply these drugs who organise these drugs to be distributed through our entire community, not just Western Australia, he said. Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. They also seized 16kg of ox blood methylamphetamine, 3kg of gold bullion, 300g of cocaine and more than $320,000 cash from multiple properties across the metropolitan area on Wednesday. Were working to restore it. Little did the trio know they were allegedly racing away from police without a single gram of drugs on board after border agent swapped out the drugs day before. The man, who was home at the time, was charged with various counts of trafficking a drug of dependence, possess handgun, possess ammunition, possess prohibited weapon and possessing property being proceeds of a crime. Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon, email newsletters for your daily news roundup. The force will continue to aggressively target drug traffickers and their criminal networks, Commissioner Col Blanch said on Sunday. He had done the trip a handful of times before. One - struggling to navigate the West Australian waters - beaching 70 kilometres north of Perth. The Turkish-Australian holds dual citizenship, and despite being included in the NSW police most wanted persons list and having an Interpol arrest warrant against his name, Turkey does not extradite its citizens. Our detectives are working closely with their State and Commonwealth law enforcement and intelligence partners to track down the source of these drugs, with a clear intent of bringing those involved in the drug trafficking syndicates to face justice here in Western Australia.. On December the 28th we observed nine men come into Western Australia, some were from WA, he said. Police watch as offenders on board a boat stashed with drugs tows a smaller boat.Credit: Police Media, The people that we are targeting are the people that are involved at the upper echelon because theyre harder to replace, and word gets out.. October 8 2021, 9.38am Seven people between the ages of 16 and 26 have been charged in connection with drug-related offences after a raid in Perth. Cool Runnings then sank. Sooner or later, they will receive a knock on the door from police and at this point, the realisation quickly dawns that they have made a decision that has ruined their life. He has since been spotted in Cyprus, Spain and Dubai, with Australian authorities suspecting he is the mastermind behind a massive drug lab in India capable of exporting tonnes of methamphetamine around the world. He was charged with attempting to possess 200kg of cocaine. The uniformed police found the drugs hidden under a pillowcase in the black sports bag Micalizzi had brought with him. Micalizzi, who claimed he was threatened into flying to Perth by Oz and Bowa over a $20,000 drug debt and had no knowledge of the drugs, would later say he "took a gamble in court". By "I saw this aeroplane come up and I just bought it out of curiosity," Nevan Pavlinovic said. The operation took place over three states, including WA and netted more than 20 kilograms of cannabis and 16 kilograms of methylamphetamine. Unknown to the cartel, the drugs were switched out with identical fakes, made from plaster-of-paris. Police were able to use fake replicas of the drugs to trick alleged suspects into thinking the cocaine had not been compromised on its journey from South America. It is alleged that members of the syndicate then used two boats - Catalina and Cool Runnings - to make several attempts to find and retrieve the cargo. "I will say that this is the first time we've done anything of this scale," Blanch said. He was then arrested by the Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime squad.. He said WA Police working with the USs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) gave officers a skip in their step and experience in tackling high-level crime. Police have released CCTV vision in an appeal for information after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at a bus stop. AFP officers were staking out a Noranda house on Monday when they observed a ute arriving at the house and reverse into the driveway. Santos is eight years into a 15-year sentence and will tell anyone who listens he is innocent. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. There, Tactical Response Group (TRG) officers were laying in wait, arresting three men. , updated Sign up here. Officers also found a loaded handgun, firearm parts, ammunition and $26,000 cash. It wasnt an unusual occurrence. Drugs News: Latest & Breaking Drugs Headlines and Today's News Updates from Australia | 7NEWS Drugs Heartbreaking last photo of teen who died from TikTok challenge By Stephanie Duprey / World News Teen could face death penalty after discovery in luggage at Bali airport By Matheus Meirelles / Drugs Eight men and one woman have been charged with serious drug offences and were refused bail. While we have seized the drugs and cash from these established criminal networks our job is not yet done and we will continue to pursue the source of these drugs, Mr Blanch said. Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia, TikToker who faked knowing NSW's daily cases and was hospitalised with Covid flies to the US and slams Australia - as he reveals what the average Texan REALLY thinks of things Down Under - but Aussies are not impressed, Supermarket shelves could remain bare for WEEKS - as Coles boss explains the real reason behind the nationwide supply shortage, 'We're not your enemies!' Pilots wondered why it sat there, rusting, and told tall stories about where it came from. Please try again later. Blanch said WA Police were supported by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, which monitors organised crime groups across the country and the world. As the Aztec dived towards the runway at Jandakot, 20 kilometres south of Perth, Santos' only passenger tattooed 20-something-year-old Australian-Italian Joseph Micalizzi was finally waking up from his 15-hour drug-fuelled slumber. Now, a man has purchased the same Aztec Piper which brought the drugs to WA.Credit: Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Those aboard Cool Runnings allegedly found what they thought was the cocaine before they ran into mechanical difficulties, with the vessel eventually beaching itself south of Moore River. Biggest drug bust in Australian history: Cocaine worth $1 billion seized in WA sting. The operation sends a message to international drug traffickers: Your deadly drugs are not welcome here and we will work closely and innovatively with our on-shore and off-shore law enforcement partners to dismantle your operations.. A search revealed roughly 30 grams of meth, five grams of ketamine, anabolic steroids and precursor chemicals for making illegal drugs. The pair were arrested at the airport and ultimately charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell or supply, and sentenced to 15 years in jail. DRUGS, firearms, stolen property and assets to the tune of more than $3 million have been seized by Kensington Detectives after police targeted a drug syndicate running from multiple Perth suburbs. In a joint collaboration with the US, dubbed "Operation Beech", 2.4 tonnes of cocaine - with alleged links to a Mexican drug cartel - was seized by officers after it had travelled from South America. The footage then switches to the operational centre before moving to the dramatic moment tactical response group officers storm the beach at Moore River to arrest the three men aboard the vessel Cool Runnings. Police arrested a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from Victoria, who were inside the vehicle. Major drug busts across Perth have netted meth, cash and gold. Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. WIN a share of $75,000 in cash prizes with the worlds richest short story competition. Best Perth pubs for pre-footy beers or a cheeky cocktail, West Australian Newspapers Limited 2023. "I did say this as this was the defence I was running," he wrote in a letter from Acacia Prison. Pic: Western Australia Police, How laughing gas addiction 'messed up' man's life, Cocaine worth 35m found on small boat in Sussex, Nitrous oxide is being sold on the streets. Another man, already in jail on drug charges, will be issued with a court attendance notice. Get the news you want delivered to your inbox. 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Codenamed Operation Beech, the sophisticated police sting managed to fool the Australian leg of the cartel into believing their illegal cargo was safely on its way to Australia. Share your story, anyone can enter. The same group of detectives arrested two alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, with nearly a million dollars and more than $360,000 in methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. During the course of this week, the Caulfield DRU has removed more than $380,000 of methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from Victorian streets, seized more than $1.1 million in allegedly ill-gotten cash, and arrested three people for trafficking., Our experienced and dedicated detectives are working together with other specialist and regional areas to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks, and most importantly, stop drugs from hitting Victorian streets.. According to Santos, he was preparing his plane for take-off at Bankstown Airport in the early hours of March 4, 2008, when a car pulled up outside the airfield and a young man dressed in a white shirt and black pants, walked up to shake his hand. Up to 15 years in a prison cell is a long way removed from the easy money they have been chasing, while police will have absolutely no hesitation seizing every dollar, piece of property, or vehicle that has been gained by profiting off the addiction of others.. A bankrupt and former nightclub bouncer from Bankstown well into his 30s, Santos had spent a few months before the bust flying passengers across the country in his Aztec in a bid to meet the minimum flying hours required to obtain a commercial pilot's licence. The drugs had been seized, so the risk of 2.4 tonnes coming to our shores had been mitigated, he said. Were looking at $300,000 to $400,000 for a kilo of cocaine, he said. Key points: An operation between US and Australian police has resulted in the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine bound for WA The trio faced Perth Magistrate's Court on 31 December and were remanded in custody to reappear on Wednesday. Shit happens.". Subscribers with digital access can view this article. to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox. The vision shows police running towards the boat and three individuals emerging from the vessel before lying on the sandy beach. . Police have revealed details of a covert international operation that stopped 2.4 tonnes of cocaine, worth $1 billion, from reaching Western Australia, in what is believed to be the nation's biggest-ever drug bust. Can the town's traditional owners bring it to an end? Santos claims he had no knowledge of any drugs being transported on the plane and maintains there was no forensic evidence linking him to the bag. In 2008, police busted $8 million worth of drugs in a light plane flying to Jandakot Airport from NSW, kick-starting the largest police operation in history. The nets are so heavy that at one point officers can be seen kicking them into the ocean, 80km off the WA coast on December 28, 2022. Officers from the Drug and Firearm Squad stopped the vehicle near Kellerberrin, in WA's Wheatbelt, at about7:30pm on Friday. Weve got a newsletter for everyone. A Perth school community has been rocked after one of its teachers was charged with indecently recording four students. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Western Australian police search a boat allegedly used to retrieve a package about 40 nautical miles off Perths coast. Pic: Western Australia Police, Police used helicopters and drones in the operation. Even after the arrests, police say the syndicate still believed the cocaine was available to buy and on 9 January officers raided a property at Carlisle in Perth and arrested a 28-year-old New South Wales man. A 62-year-old man was arrested and charged over the stash. READ MORE COMMENTS FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ON THE WEST AUSTRALIAN. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Longhorn said it was imperative that police share intel with other agencies and create innovative ways of staying ahead of the syndicates. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023.
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