A man has been extradited from Victoria to New South Wales over an alleged “rip on, rip off” scheme involving 120 kilograms of cocaine.
Detectives began investigating a criminal syndicate allegedly using the method to access prohibited drugs hidden in shipping containers in May.
That method sees traffickers piggyback drug consignments inside shipping containers used by legitimate companies, who are unaware of the illegal activity.
Investigations led to the arrest of a 43-year-old man at Melbourne‘s Tullamarine Airport about 5.50am last Thursday, police said today.
The man was extradited to NSW the following day.
When he touched down in Sydney, he was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with offences including attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug as well as possessing a means of disguising his face and being armed with the intent of committing an indictable offence.
“Police will allege the man was the overseer who organised for the others involved to travel to Australia to conduct the ‘rip on, rip off’ of the drugs,” police said.
The man was refused bail and will appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
Two other men have also been charged in relation to the investigation and remain before the courts.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
