A convicted murderer, a parolee supervisor and an Uber driver have been charged over an alleged plot to import $250million worth of drugs.
The trio are due to face court in Sydney on Wednesday after 313 kilograms of ice and 300 kilograms of cocaine intended for Australia were intercepted in South America.
Scott Alan May, 37, Trevor Alfred Derley, 64, and Robert Albert Piras, 60, were arrested on Tuesday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
May, the alleged head of the syndicate, was previously convicted for murdering a heroin dealer in 2003, and acquitted of another murder in 2008.
Mr Derley is a ‘work release supervisor’ for convicts on parole, and Mr Piras is employed as an Uber driver.
Three men have been charged in Sydney after 313 kilograms of methylamphetamine (pictured) intended for Australia was intercepted in Panama
A convicted murderer, a parolee supervisor and an Uber driver have been charged over an alleged plot to import $250million worth of drugs (pictured is one of the men)
Scott Alan May, 37, Trevor Alfred Derley, 64, and Robert Albert Piras, 60, were arrested on Tuesday (pictured is one of the men)
Their arrests come after an international operation was launched last year to investigate the activities of a Sydney-based, transnational, organised crime syndicate.
The ice was seized in Panama on October 26 – the country’s largest ever seizure of methamphetamine.
Further investigation uncovered a separate plan to import cocaine from Colombia to Australia.
Pictures released by the police show the haul of drugs seized as part of the operation.
In other images men are seen being bundled into the back of a police van, while police dressed in riot gear hold dogs.
A video shows the alleged smugglers looking battered and bruised as they sit handcuffed on the ground.
Two men, aged in their 60s, were arrested at a warehouse in Alexandria and appeared battered and bruised in images released by police
The drugs were seized on October 26 in a joint police operation that also uncovered a separate plan to import cocaine from South America to Australia
Officers found 300 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of $120million, headed to Australia
One man, wearing a bright-coloured top, was seen handcuffed and led away by officers
Mr Derley and Mr Piras were arrested at a warehouse in Alexandria and both charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
May was arrested shortly after at a home in Coogee and charged with two counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, and direct activities of criminal organisation.
Officers then carried out search warrants throughout Sydney, at Coogee, Lilyfield, Regents Park, Strathfield, and Zetland.
They uncovered more than $500,000 cash, ice, mobile phones and other items relevant to the investigation.
A 24-year-old woman was arrested at the Zetland property and charged with dealing with property proceeds of crime.
Police dressed in riot gear were pictured holding dogs as part of the operation
Officers have also carried out search warrants throughout Sydney, at Coogee, Lilyfield, Regents Park, Strathfield, and Zetland
She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 11 January 2018.
NSW Police Force’s Director of Crime Operations, Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Smith, said shutting down international crime syndicates was only possible through strong relationships with agencies overseas.
‘Over the past 12 months, NSW Police Force – in partnership and cooperation with local and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies – has uncovered some sophisticated attempts to bring narcotics through our borders and onto the streets of Sydney,’ he said.
‘Our joint investigations have ensured these attempts were only attempts; tonnes of these harmful substances have been seized and countless members of criminal syndicates arrested and put before the courts.
‘International cooperation in law enforcement and intelligence is not new, but our relationships are stronger than ever, allowing us to reach across the globe to target any crime that may impact on the people of NSW.’
A third man, aged 37 (not pictured) was also arrested on Tuesday in Coogee and has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.