Tue, 25 April 2023 3:52PM. The Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and Community Street Crime Units of Grey-Bruce and Huron-Perth started an investigation in May after they say there was an increase in drug overdoses across . The pair appeared in court on Monday charged with possession of a trafficable quantity of methylamphetamine with intent to sell and supply and they have been remanded in custody until their next appearance on May 10. How much extra could mortgage repayments be, now the cash rate is 3.85 per cent? However, in 2010, as the Australian branch of the syndicate started to unravel, Ayik fled the country. The WA drug bust that changed Australian law enforcement forever They rung in the new year behind bars charged withattempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs, facing life in jail. Officers searched the delivery and discovered a 'crystal-like substance' stuffed inside the pillows. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. They are progressing through WAs courts. Pilots wondered why it sat there, rusting, and told tall stories about where it came from. Unknown to the cartel, the drugs were switched out with identical fakes, made from plaster-of-paris. Acting deputy police commissioner Tony Longhorn said Australia was an attractive proposition for would-be drug dealers. Among those arrested were the crew aboard the Catalina, who are also seen in the police footage. A total of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth about $1 billion was prevented from reaching WA shores thanks to a secret high-risk operation involving WA Polices new transnational serious and organised crime squad and agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The Aztec at a hangar at Jandakot Airpot. 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. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. 09/10/2022 Two arrested, 300kg in liquid MDMA hidden in wine bottles seized 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. Who is Vanessa Hudson? By The consignment was loaded onto the ship in Asia, however investigations will continue into the source of the drugs. "The people who bought those drugs into this believed there was another 1.2 tonnes sitting in a warehouse in WA - so we waited and we watched," Blanch said. Arrests being made at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Three men charged over alleged plot to bring $100m worth of meth into Credit:Nine News. 'Okay, without being fantastic': Alan Joyce's legacy after 15 years at the helm of Qantas. Operation Beech: Footage of the moment police storm beach, dump fake 17 people have been charged, over 20 million dollars of assets have been seized. Youve got young detectives sitting in Perth, Western Australia, and all of a sudden theyre doing a joint international operation with the DEA, he said. It was at this point, under the cover of darkness, that the TRG officers struck. The drugs had been seized, so the risk of 2.4 tonnes coming to our shores had been mitigated, he said. 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. Australian Federal Police have charged four men and seized 8kg of methamphetamine after busting an alleged Vietnamese drug trafficking syndicate in Perth. Fatal crash - Durack Published on April 23, 2023 Officers from the Major Crash Investigations Unit are investigating an incident that occurred in Durack today, Sunday 23 April 2023. 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.. Perth woman facing drug charges following police raid A handcuffed Santos assists police searching the plane at Jandakot Airport. The substance was sent to police for . Sign up here. "That's $33 million worth of drugs that have been taken out of play," Mr Papalia said. Police arrested a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from Victoria, who were inside the vehicle. WA Police have targeted drug dealers, capitalising on the platforms used to carry out their illegal behavior. Inert cocaine being dropped into the ocean by WA Police in a sting operation to target drug smugglers. Please try again later. 7NEWS Perth - DRUG BUST Tonight in 7 News at 6, a major - Facebook 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. It was the biggest drug bust in WA history and a day law enforcement officers would remember for years to come. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Eight of the men were from NSW, one from the US, one from NT, one of no fixed address and a 29-year-old man from Champion Lakes, WA. It was given to the Australian Federal Police for testing, coming back as positive to meth. 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. 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. Inert Cocaine is dropped in the ccean by WA Police. Perth RBT and Booze Bus locations - Facebook 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. 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. Another man, already in jail on drug charges, will be issued with a court attendance notice. What's Happening - Police Scotland In a cunning plan to trap them, police substituted the cargo for fake cocaine using identical packaging. Share your story, anyone can enter. Border officers found substance stuffed inside pillows shipped to Australia. 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 can be seen for the first time. Breaking news, sport, business and more. 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Police have raided nearly 50 homes and businesses across Perth, smashing a criminal empire allegedly run by a 24-year-old man believed to have links to South American drug cartels. A 62-year-old man was arrested and charged over the stash. Micalizzi, who sat down at the back of the six seater, slept most of the time, Santos says, and spoke to him only to ask when they would arrive. 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. Cool Runnings is towed by offenders onboard another vessel Catalina . 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. The party rode out in uncomfortable conditions in two vessels, Catalina and Cool Runnings both of which ran into trouble. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. 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. 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. Blanch said this was an extraordinary job by the people involved but said it was not over. Drugs & Alcohol | The West Australian Get the news you want delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a headline. A covert police operation has foiled a billion dollars worth of cocaine entering Western Australia, with officers duping the alleged criminals into believing they had gotten away with the import. He said catching those that dispensed of the drugs was only part of the ongoing war against drug distribution in the country. 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. They dropped it 40 nautical miles west of the state capital Perth, while monitoring it using drones and helicopters. To improve your experience, The population of 'world's most criticised prison' just doubled. It wasnt an unusual occurrence. Cool Runnings then sank. Then on 13 January police stopped a vehicle on the Great Eastern Highway near Coolgardie, more than 550km east of Perth, and found more than $2m in cash. These campaigns always reflect our most important policing priorities. The Catalina Boat is Searched at Hillarys Boat Harbour . after Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized a record 2.4 . The pick-up was witnessed by officers from the ABF, the AFP, and Western Australian police officers who were assisted by Home Affairs and theAustralian Criminal Intelligence Commission. The Catalina crew towed Cool Runnings out to sea and allegedly transferred the inert package over to their vessel. Fire erupts at car auction yard in Perth - 9news.com.au Eight men and one woman have been charged with serious drug offences and were refused bail. "Someone told me there was a story behind it, and then I sort of had an idea that that was the one that I vaguely remembered.". 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.. Men to be charged over 188kg cocaine bust | 7NEWS Our job is to protect this community and well go after whoever seeks to harm us.. 365 kilograms of cocaine was found stashed in an overturned boat off the coast of Esperance. 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!' AFP and ABF officers swooped on the trio as they left the site in a white van, resulting in a dramatic collision after the men allegedly tried to evade police. Cannabis seized after drug bust in Perth's north-east A massive blaze erupted at an auction yard in Perth on Friday night, with dozens of cars going up in flames. WIN a share of $75,000 in cash prizes with the worlds richest short story competition. West Australian Newspapers Limited 2023. AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner John Tanti said the price of the illicit substance skyrocketed in WA due to border closures that restricted the supply. The latest real-time news updates and headlines on drug. This latest drugs interception is one of many attempts by smugglers to bring illegal substances into the country via the WA coast. They had taken 15 vacuum-sealed bags filled with 30,000 MDMA tablets and more than 20 plastic bags containing almost 22 kilograms of methylamphetamine off the streets and, although they did not know it at the time, they had kick-started one of the largest law enforcement operations in Australian history. 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. 7:42am Apr 29, 2023. In the latest move, nine people have been arrested in relation to two separate drug operations targeting alleged organised crime networks in Perth. It was mostly unknown clients like the one bound for Jandakot who had booked the trips. (modern). Police watched from the air as the second boat towed the first back out to sea, before it too ran into trouble. Six men and one woman were charged following. Peta Rasdien The West Australian. "The jury didn't buy it, I was found guilty at trial and got 15 years. Its bits and bobs are now scattered across his verandah and the tail and fuselage sit in a backyard in Perth's north, a dire reminder of the plane that once sat in the middle of Australia's own war on drugs and that changed law enforcement forever. Officers watched their moves from the air and a tactical response group arrested three people aboard Cool Runnings allegedly with about 1.2 tonnes of the inert substance. Men snared in 'massive' billion-dollar Geraldton meth bust to spend 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. Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail, Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter. Police foil plan to bring $1bn worth of cocaine into Western Australia This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Campaigns. Russia may soon run out of money: billionaire. 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. "WA police," a robust voice said firmly from the other side of the metal. It was a 30-plus degree summer day and, although a cyclone was gravitating towards Western Australia's northern coast, not a gust of wind was blowing at the strip. Ellenbrook drug bust: Three people charged after 7.3kg of cannabis Get exclusive discounts on movie tickets, dining and popular attractions. 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. Police watch as offenders on board a boat stashed with drugs tows a smaller boat. Joint media releases | Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission - ACIC 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. On December the 28th we observed nine men come into Western Australia, some were from WA, he said. Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc. Police allege those onboard the Catalina then transferred the cargo from Cool Runnings into their boat. "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. Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. 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. Police seize firearms, vehicles and drugs in Operation Ironside. The pills seized, which weighed 25kg,are yet to be tested. A man is arrested by WA Police as part of a seizure of drugs being imported into Australia. Trusted enough to keep an eye on Santos and ensure the safe delivery of the drugs, Judge Stevenson would describe Micalizzi's role as "likely to have not only included some financial reward but some relationship-building with those he was associated with". RBT and Booze Bus Locations - for all other road stuff, speed, handhelds etc, Perth Revenue Raisers Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup. Biggest drug bust in Australian history: Cocaine worth $1 billion Just after 3am, with Micalizzi's bag safety stowed in the cargo hold, the pair took off in the Aztec, leaving Bankstown's runway behind en route to Whyalla, the first refuelling stop on the 15-hour journey to Jandakot. Moment commuter blasts eco-zealots, LGBTQ+ supporters demand Ryan Webb resign at council meeting, Russian freight train derails and bursts into flames after explosion, Royal superfans camping on The Mall ahead of King's Coronation, Historic chairs to be reused by the King for the coronation service, Women's rights activists and pro-trans campaigners separated, Saboteurs wreck Russian train cut power cables 37mi from Ukraine, Devastating tornado picks up car and hurls it through air in Florida, Student kicked out of school for 'there are only two genders' t-shirt, Unseen footage of Meghan Markle during her teenage years, Moment bull suffers catastrophic injuries after leaping from bridge, Cambridge students party in the park during annual celebrations. Confused by the 'sustainability' label on your favourite can of tuna? Kewdale Murder Charge Forensic specialists estimated there was about 99kg of meth inside the pillows, with a street value of at least $100 million. The meth was replaced with a harmless substance and repacked before the cargo was released to be collected and the sting was on. Perth drug busts: Police seize meth, cash and gold in multiple raids Officers search the black sports bag containing nearly $8 million worth of drugs stored in the cargo hold. Australia's biggest drug bust: $1 billion worth of cocaine linked to This comp is for you! 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. "I say that it's a magnificent effort to defend our shores," WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. 20:54 EDT 04 Jan 2022 The 1970s Aztec Piper no longer sits at Jandakot Airport. Key points: Ronald Peace, 36, was arrested alongside eight others in the outback town of Tennant Creek last June after a three-and-a-half month NT Police investigation codenamed Operation AMYL . Three men arrested for attempting to import almost $1million worth of meth. Media Releases | Western Australia Police Force Perth drug busts: Police seize $3 million in property, drugs, cash, and Police have released CCTV vision in an appeal for information after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at a bus stop. "Turn the engine off and get out of the aircraft.". , updated The plane that spurred the downfall of one of Australia's largest drug syndicates was sold at auction in May. The body of MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo was found at 2am at a hotel in one of Melbournes most famous streets. Qantas has announced a new CEO to take over from Alan Joyce. AFP charges four in Western Australia over meth trafficking Three men - aged 31, 32 and 35 - have been charged with importing the drugs and faced Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday. READ MORE COMMENTS FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ON THE WEST AUSTRALIAN. Young offenders are 'running amok' in Alice Springs. More than a decade later after the sting, drugs continue to slip across Australia's borders from overseas, as the nation's drug users consume more than four tonnes of cocaine every year. A Perth school community has been rocked after one of its teachers was charged with indecently recording four students. to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox. 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. Deputy Commissioner Tony Longhorn said: "It's a confidence booster every time we do these operations we're testing the limitations of our capabilities.". The comments below have not been moderated, By Can the town's traditional owners bring it to an end? Six more men were then arrested at a popular family boat harbour in Perth. Just last month, 365 kilograms of cocaine was found stashed in an overturned boat off the coast of Esperance following the dramatic rescue of three men found clinging to an esky. He was then arrested by the Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime squad.. 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. 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 The biggest drug bust in Australian history has been pulled off by WA Police after an undercover operation led to the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth about $1 billion dollars. 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. "I did say this as this was the defence I was running," he wrote in a letter from Acacia Prison. DRUG BUST Tonight in 7 News at 6, a major police crackdown has seen massive drug busts across the country. 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.. Officers from the Drug and Firearm Squad stopped the vehicle near Kellerberrin, in WA's Wheatbelt, at about7:30pm on Friday. It is alleged more than $2 million cash was found in the vehicle. Police search bushland in Wellard as part of Operation Kingston Alcatraz. March 4, 2023 9.59am Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The biggest drug bust in Australian history has been pulled off by WA Police after an undercover operation led to the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine worth about $1 billion dollars. Read more:How laughing gas addiction 'messed up' man's lifeCocaine worth 35m found on small boat in SussexNitrous oxide is being sold on the streets. In late November, US authorities intercepted the shipment off the South American coast - alerting WA police. The operation took place over three states, including WA and netted more than 20 kilograms of cannabis and 16 kilograms of methylamphetamine. Police officers have seized 10kg of the dangerous drug methylamphetamine and more than $300,000 in cash following searches at suburban Perth homes. Regular chances to win incredible prizes like luxury getaways and sports tickets with our subscriber exclusive competitions. Dozens of charges were laid in the wake of a recent three-day blitz, looking to pick apart Perth's illicit drug trade which is operating on encrypted messaging apps including Telegram. Three men returned to the house the following evening and entered the shipping container to access the boxes. 395 talking about this. They get a one off payment, and theyre dispensable. Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. For years, it sat on the tarmac at a general airport 20 kilometres south of Perth. 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.. queensland 12:17pm Apr 29, 2023 120kg of cocaine found inside shipping container by ABF Officers duped the alleged criminals into believing they had gotten away with the import, police say. Over the following days, police watched as two boats were used to bring the drugs to shore, where three men were arrested at Moore River and a further six at Hillarys Boat Harbour. WA Police seize 2.4 tonnes of cocaine.Credit: Nine News Perth/Supplied, Another individual turned up from New South Wales and we will allege he took away 200 kilograms of that 1.2 tonnes. Footage of a dawn raid in Melbournes suburbs shows officers seize large quantity of drugs and a loaded handgun. Biggest drug bust in Australian history: Cocaine worth $1 billion seized in WA sting. Emily Moulton and Shannon Hampton Operation Beech How alleged Mexican cartel-linked syndicate came unstuck Subscribers with digital access can view this article. Live drug updates. It also shows police raiding a house in Carlisle where another person alleged to be involved with the syndicate was arrested. The men face a potential life sentence if convicted. 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. Share your story, anyone can enter. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. News drugs drugs Man charged after allegedly trucking 136kg of cannabis to Queensland Police said they found the drugs behind a number of potted palm trees in the back of the truck.