An Adelaide man has been sentenced to six years in prison for attempting to import $7 million worth of cocaine into Australia. The 49-year-old man pleaded guilty in May 2022 to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug after he was arrested and charged in September 2020.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), using intelligence gathered during Operation Ironside, disrupted the plan to import 18kg of cocaine from Greece. The cocaine was concealed inside two welding machines shipped from Greece. The AFP alerted the Australian Border Force (ABF) to inspect the shipment upon arrival in South Australia. X-rays revealed anomalies, and subsequent examination discovered electronic safes containing the cocaine within the machines.
The AFP estimated the seized cocaine could have been divided into 20,000 "street level" deals. Detective Acting Superintendent Rodger Braun of the AFP emphasized the importance of this operation in protecting the community and preventing financial gain for criminals.
Investigations revealed the man's involvement in several acts: sending money to a business in Athens, arranging initial delivery to his former workplace without their knowledge, establishing a fake company and changing the delivery address to his home, and attempting to collect the consignment before being informed of its seizure. Authorities seized electronic devices and related documents from the man's home during a search warrant execution.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of Australian law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking. It demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and intelligence operations in disrupting illegal activities and protecting communities from the harmful impacts of narcotics.
