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. 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. Unknown to the cartel, the drugs were switched out with identical fakes, made from plaster-of-paris. 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!' WA Police target drug dealers using encrypted messaging apps 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. Organised crime squad detectives charged two men aged 44 and another aged 38 in connection with cash and drugs. 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. Drugs & Alcohol | The West Australian Among those arrested were the crew aboard the Catalina, who are also seen in the police footage. WIN a share of $75,000 in cash prizes with the worlds richest short story competition. "We're looking at 250-400 dollars a kilo for cocaine, so you can see the benefit in the cartels and offshore syndicates in they don't have to get a great deal through," said WA Deputy Commissioner Tony Longhorn. 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. Longhorn said the operation was an opportunity to catch those responsible for drug importation at a higher level. Police officers have seized 10kg of the dangerous drug methylamphetamine and more than $300,000 in cash following searches at suburban Perth homes. Inert cocaine being dropped into the ocean by WA Police in a sting operation to target drug smugglers. 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. Officers from the Drug and Firearm Squad stopped the vehicle near Kellerberrin, in WA's Wheatbelt, at about7:30pm on Friday. The two men were met then met another group, who then allegedly helped to unload the boxes of latex pillows into a shipping container at the property. The gear would then be cooked or cut if needed and distributed across the country using light planes like Santos', all while the Comancheros ensured the drugs and the syndicate's main actors would be protected as the enterprise's de-facto security arm. Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc. He had established his own flying company, Santos Aviation, in 2006 and bought his American-made Aztec a year later with a generous cash donation from a family friend. Police search bushland in Wellard as part of Operation Kingston Alcatraz. But during his trial in the WA District Court, Judge Christopher Stevenson said the duo had played a "dangerous game of Russian Roulette" trying to incriminate each other, "the last refuge of a desperate man to avoid any criminal liability". Fake cocaine used to lure suspects in Australia's biggest - Sky News Live drug updates. 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. 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. Officers search the black sports bag containing nearly $8 million worth of drugs stored in the cargo hold. Six men will be charged over the importation of nearly $50 million of cocaine supplied by a Mexican drug cartel. A further nine arrests were made through to 13 January, including on the Great Eastern highway, roughly 373 miles (600km) east of Perth, where officers found more than 1.2m ($2m) in cash. The Aztec at a hangar at Jandakot Airpot. Twenty-six people, including six from Perth County, are facing numerous charges after a massive drug bust earlier this week. Detectives executed search warrants in Perth on New Years Eve and charged nine men with attempting to possess 1.2 tonnes of cocaine. Man charged after alleged sexual assault in Melbourne park. 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.. The force said on Tuesday 52 charges were laid as part of the operation, and six guns and 3000 rounds of ammunition seized. All times AEST (GMT +10). It is alleged more than $2 million cash was found in the vehicle. 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. The substance was sent to police for . 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. Footage of a dawn raid in Melbournes suburbs shows officers seize large quantity of drugs and a loaded handgun. 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. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/wa-police-seize-33kg-of-meth-in-border-drug-bust/100079626, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Reserve Bank hikes cash rate to 3.85 per cent as Qantas announces Alan Joyce's successor, Borrowers shocked as RBA announces interest rate rise, Businesses to be forced to pay superannuation on payday, meaning more retirement income for workers, Cat costumes, transformations, lots of black and white: Here are the moments from the Met Gala, Doja Cat, Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman attend Met Gala for fashion's biggest night, Recreational vaping is set to be outlawed here's why and the effect vaping can have on your body, Health minister launches war on vaping, Medicare reforms. Australian police have intercepted $1bn Australian dollars worth of cocaine from entering the west of the country, in what is believed to be the nation's biggest-ever drug bust. Campaigns. Six Perth County residents charged as part of massive drug bust in 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. 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. An officer who identified himself as Detective Roy Morrish was standing at the forefront of the unit, motioning officers to unzip the large sports bag Micalizzi had loaded onto the cargo hold 15 hours prior. 02:58 EDT 05 Jan 2022. Six men and one woman were charged following. 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. 395 talking about this. Alleged Barkly region drug syndicate under surveillance for months Deputy Commissioner Tony Longhorn said: "It's a confidence booster every time we do these operations we're testing the limitations of our capabilities.". 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. The party rode out in uncomfortable conditions in two vessels, Catalina and Cool Runnings both of which ran into trouble. Police search an area of river in Caversham as part of Operation Kingston Destiny. The footage shows officers carrying large box-shaped items covered in brown paper, as well as smaller paper bags. In the latest move, nine people have been arrested in relation to two separate drug operations targeting alleged organised crime networks in Perth. 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. Police have released CCTV vision in an appeal for information after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at a bus stop. They charged a 39-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman they say are connected to the syndicate. Key points: An operation between US and Australian police has resulted in the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine bound for WA '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. Police said the 99kg ofmeth - estimated to be worth about $100million - could have been sold to a million people in individual street deals. Were working to restore it. Perth drug busts: Police seize $3 million in property, drugs, cash, and Police learned the alleged Australian arm of the group was waiting to receive the haul about 28 December, prompting WA officers to put together a dummy package using an inert substance. Eight-week-old puppy's leg amputated after being thrown against wall. "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. Hakan Ayik with a lingerie-clad companion.Credit: The goods were shipped from overseas to Australia's ports, where dodgy wharfies would turn a blind eye to the cargo for the right reward. The raid was the result of a six-month investigation into drug trafficking, dubbed Operation Miami. Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup. 20:54 EDT 04 Jan 2022 The drugs had been seized, so the risk of 2.4 tonnes coming to our shores had been mitigated, he said. March 4, 2023 3:36AM Topics Crime Courts & Justice Perth WA News 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. Credit: Unknown/WA Police In the latest move, nine people have been arrested in relation to two separate drug operations targeting alleged organised crime networks in Perth. Police charged a 39-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who were allegedly connected to the syndicate, according to ABC. Officers searched the delivery and discovered a 'crystal-like substance' stuffed inside the pillows. Drug and firearm squad detectives executed a search warrant at a house on Fantail Crescent in Ellenbrook late on Thursday night. 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. Also contained in the vision is the moment officers retrieve the fake cocaine from the Catalina at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Twelve men in total with charged as a result of the operation, ranging from 19 to 67 years of age. 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. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. 17 people have been charged, over 20 million dollars of assets have been seized. WA cops crack cartels mega $1b drug shipment. In this section you can find the very latest news about our police operations, arrests and appeals for information. Police foil plan to bring $1bn worth of cocaine into Western Australia A Perth school community has been rocked after one of its teachers was charged with indecently recording four students. 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. 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.. Three men arrested for attempting to import almost $1million worth of meth. A search revealed roughly 30 grams of meth, five grams of ketamine, anabolic steroids and precursor chemicals for making illegal drugs. Get the news you want delivered to your inbox. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia Australia's largest ever crime sting shows messages drug lords sent Ellenbrook drug bust: Three people charged after 7.3kg of cannabis 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. Media Releases | Western Australia Police Force Pilots wondered why it sat there, rusting, and told tall stories about where it came from. Biggest drug bust in Australian history: Cocaine worth $1 billion seized in WA sting. He was charged with attempting to possess 200kg of cocaine. "Ah, we have an issue here," Detective Morrish said as he peeked inside the bag. The men face a potential life sentence if convicted. (modern). It was a sweet deal for somebody living off the generosity of friends and family. It also shows police raiding a house in Carlisle where another person alleged to be involved with the syndicate was arrested. Acting deputy police commissioner Tony Longhorn said Australia was an attractive proposition for would-be drug dealers. With his eyes glued to the yoke, dials and switches, Santos hadn't spotted the small army of uniformed officers. They get a one off payment, and theyre dispensable. 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. Two people have been arrested after an investigation into an organised crime syndicate allegedly importing and distributing tens of millions of dollars of illicit drugs into Melbourne and operating a drug 'safe house'. Eight men and one woman have been charged with serious drug offences and were refused bail. In late November, US authorities intercepted the shipment off the South American coast - alerting WA police. 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. 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. Police smash drug ring allegedly run by 24-year-old, 'The Kid' queensland 12:17pm Apr 29, 2023 120kg of cocaine found inside shipping container by ABF Men to be charged over 188kg cocaine bust | 7NEWS 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 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. 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". 'We believe it is also no coincidence that the drugs had arrived in Perth just in time for New Year's Eve celebrations one of the busiest nights of the year for drug and alcohol fuelled harm.'. 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. Peta Rasdien The West Australian. 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. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the methamphetamine was the equivalent of 330,000 "hits". The meth was replaced with a harmless substance and repacked before the cargo was released to be collected and the sting was on.