A Hong Kong man was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment in connection to Australia’s biggest-ever cocaine seizure on April 22.
The record 1.89-tonne seizure is the largest cocaine seizure in Australian history and would have had a potential street value of approximately $1.289 billion, Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on their official website.
A joint Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and NSW Police Force investigation led authorities to intercept a drug-filled vessel off the NSW coast near Newcastle in August 2020.
The three crew members - a Hong Kong man then-aged 40 and two Australian men – were arrested and charged with drug importation offences.
The Hong Kong man appeared at the Downing Centre District Court where he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of seven years.
The two Australian men in October 2021 sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 10 years.
The men had previously pled guilty to attempting to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely cocaine.
The vessel used in the illegal venture was seized by the AFP and has since been sold as a Commonwealth forfeited asset.
AFP Detective Superintendent Matthew Ciantar said the size of this seizure and the amount of harm it could potentially have caused cannot be understated.
“This multi-agency operation is testament to our combined determination to cause lasting damage to organised crime syndicates targeting the Australian community with their toxic rubbish,” Ciantar said.
“A 1.89 tonne shipment is a significant investment for organised crime. Seizing it stops these criminal groups from reaping a monstrous profit, and will cause real and tangible damage to their exploitative and dangerous activities,” he added.
ABF Commander Susan Drennan said the arrests are a testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of all officers involved.
NSW Police State Crime Command Director, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett, said the success of the joint-operation serves as a strong deterrent to criminal syndicates involved in the importation of illicit drugs into NSW.
