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. The enormous volume represents half of Australia's annual consumption of the drug, and has an estimated street value of $1 billion. 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. Pic: Western Australia Police, Money seized from a vehicle on the Great Eastern highway. Police say importers are looking to exploit high prices for the drug in WA, where supply has been disrupted by Covid-19 border restrictions. 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. A Perth school community has been rocked after one of its teachers was charged with indecently recording four students. 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. 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. 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. Best Perth pubs for pre-footy beers or a cheeky cocktail, West Australian Newspapers Limited 2023. He said WA Police working with the USs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) gave officers a skip in their step and experience in tackling high-level crime. Credit:Nine News. Key points: An operation between US and Australian police has resulted in the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine bound for WA Subscribers with digital access can view this article. 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.. 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. 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. A search revealed roughly 30 grams of meth, five grams of ketamine, anabolic steroids and precursor chemicals for making illegal drugs. Arrests being made at Hillarys Boat Harbour.Credit: Police Media, Theres some good crooks in the mix and thats what we want.. A Perth DJ and self-proclaimed upcoming producer is among five people facing serious charges after detectives seized more than 12kg of drugs in Perths north-eastern suburbs. queensland 12:17pm Apr 29, 2023 120kg of cocaine found inside shipping container by ABF 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. This latest drugs interception is one of many attempts by smugglers to bring illegal substances into the country via the WA coast. Police arrested a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from Victoria, who were inside the vehicle. 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. AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner John Tanti said the price of the illicit substance skyrocketed in WA due to border closures that restricted the supply. 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. 17 people have been charged, over 20 million dollars of assets have been seized. 09/10/2022 Two arrested, 300kg in liquid MDMA hidden in wine bottles seized "WA police," a robust voice said firmly from the other side of the metal. Police say the shipment was linked to a Mexican cartel and traffickers had no idea of the seizure, believing the drugs were still on their way to Australia. A man is arrested by WA Police as part of a seizure of drugs being imported into Australia. The Catalina Boat is Searched at Hillarys Boat Harbour . Qantas has announced a new CEO to take over from Alan Joyce. Six more men were then arrested at a popular family boat harbour in Perth. 'Criminal syndicates are looking to exploit this demand and sell methamphetamine in WA to maximise their profits, they do not care about the immense harm that this drug causes,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Tanti said. For years, it sat on the tarmac at a general airport 20 kilometres south of Perth. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. 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. Two people were arrested and charged with laundering money from proceeds of a major offence. We say we go after those who supply these drugs who organise these drugs to be distributed through our entire community, not just Western Australia, he said. From Whyalla they travelled to Forrest, a popular refuelling stop more than 1100km east of Perth, near the South Australian border. "Joseph Micalizzi," he said, a large sports bag hanging from his shoulder. Longhorn said it was imperative that police share intel with other agencies and create innovative ways of staying ahead of the syndicates. Mr Blanch said almost two weeks after the arrests at Hillarys Boat Harbour, police received information from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission that led to a search of a car on Great Eastern Highway near Coolgardie. 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. Border Force officers were first alerted to the delivery when a 550kg shipment of latex pillows arrived in Fremantle on a container ship on December 17. "I will say that this is the first time we've done anything of this scale," Blanch said. He said the estimated cost of the drugs entering the West Australian community would have been $22.65 million through crime, increased healthcare and justice costs, and loss of productivity. As the plane finally stopped on the apron, the Lycoming O-540 engines idling away, he heard a knock on the door. Live drug updates. He added that implementing collaborative and innovative strategies in police intelligence would be key to tackling future drug activity. It was the biggest drug bust in WA history and a day law enforcement officers would remember for years to come. 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. 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'. 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. 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. Russia may soon run out of money: billionaire. 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. We had members from New South Wales, Northern Territory and one from the United States and we will allege that they were here to retrieve that 2.4 tonnes of cocaine and distribute it amongst our country. They rung in the new year behind bars charged withattempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs, facing life in jail. 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.. Please try again later. This operation has enabled us to draw out those members of the syndicate who were equipped and prepared to receive and distribute a significant amount of illicit drugs within the community, who may have otherwise gone undetected and waited for the next consignment, the WA police commissioner, Col Blanch, said on Saturday. Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc. Kewdale Murder Charge The force will continue to aggressively target drug traffickers and their criminal networks, Commissioner Col Blanch said on Sunday. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Every year we run public campaigns to highlight different ways that people can keep safe, report crime or be challenged about their own behaviour. BUSTED! The latest real-time news updates and headlines on drug. So you can see the benefit in the cartels and offshore syndicates in that they dont need to get a great deal through, so they flood our borders because its worthwhile to them.. 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. '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.'. In pre-dawn raids on Tuesday, five men were arrested in a joint police operation sparked by the seizure of 188 kilos of the drug in 2019. They are progressing through WAs courts. A handcuffed Santos assists police searching the plane at Jandakot Airport. Emily Moulton and Shannon Hampton Operation Beech How alleged Mexican cartel-linked syndicate came unstuck The four charged are expected to face Perth Magistrate's Court again this afternoon (21 May 2021). 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. 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. Teen loses appeal against sentence for hit-and-run killing of Queensland couple and their unborn baby, Endurance swimmer known as 'King of the Channel' dies during triathlon, German zoo welcomes first polar bear cub in 21 years, Natascha Lechner died minutes after using frog poison in 'Kambo' vomiting ritual, inquest told, Households tally rising grocery bills as interest rates climb again, Police officer in hospital after being hit by garbage truck in Launceston, Sick 4yo boy left without pillow at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital, opposition says, ACT cycling group suggests lowering speed limit to 30kph in Canberra's suburbs. Officers from the Drug and Firearm Squad stopped the vehicle near Kellerberrin, in WA's Wheatbelt, at about7:30pm on Friday. As the Aztec dived towards the runway at Jandakot, 20 kilometres south of Perth, Santos' only passenger tattooed 20-something-year-old Australian-Italian Joseph Micalizzi was finally waking up from his 15-hour drug-fuelled slumber. However, police continued their operation, knowing the cartel believed another 1.2 tonnes of drugs was sitting in a WA warehouse. Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc. But after the deal fell through, Mr Pavlinovic, who buys and sells everything from jet engines to power tools, dismantled the plane to sell it for parts to the highest bidder. 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. Confused by the 'sustainability' label on your favourite can of tuna? The comments below have not been moderated, By One - struggling to navigate the West Australian waters - beaching 70 kilometres north of 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. Cops dragged three burly, tattooed men out of the upturned vehicle on a patch of grass in southeast Perth and arrested them on December 30. 266266 Organised crime squad detectives charged two men aged 44 and another aged 38 in connection with cash and drugs. Officers also found a loaded handgun, firearm parts, ammunition and $26,000 cash. The footage shows officers carrying large box-shaped items covered in brown paper, as well as smaller paper bags. 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. The plane that spurred the downfall of one of Australia's largest drug syndicates was sold at auction in May. READ MORE COMMENTS FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ON THE WEST AUSTRALIAN. Eight-week-old puppy's leg amputated after being thrown against wall. . Are you a deadset writing legend? 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. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the methamphetamine was the equivalent of 330,000 "hits". In the latest move, nine people have been arrested in relation to two separate drug operations targeting alleged organised crime networks in Perth. Drugs News: Latest & Breaking Drugs Headlines and Today's News Updates from Australia | 7NEWS Drugs Heartbreaking last photo of teen who died from TikTok challenge By Stephanie Duprey / World News Teen could face death penalty after discovery in luggage at Bali airport By Matheus Meirelles / Drugs Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. A total of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine was stopped from entering our shores and 12 people were arrested in the largest bust in Australian history. 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". Major drug busts across Perth have netted meth, cash and gold. 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. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. The successful operation led to 12 arrests. By Border officers found substance stuffed inside pillows shipped to Australia. The pills seized, which weighed 25kg,are yet to be tested. The drugs had a street value of around 562.9m ($1bn Australian dollars), and were equivalent to half of Australia's estimated annual consumption, according to police. 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. In the first part of the vision, WA officers who had replaced the drug with plaster of paris and made sure the packaging was identical can be seen dumping large nets containing 1.2 tonnes of the fake cocaine that were attached to orange buoys into the water. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Twelve men in total with charged as a result of the operation, ranging from 19 to 67 years of age. Campaigns. Police allege those onboard the Catalina then transferred the cargo from Cool Runnings into their boat. In a cunning plan to trap them, police substituted the cargo for fake cocaine using identical packaging. , updated The dozen alleged offenders already arrested come from the US, NSW and the Northern Territory. Six men and one woman were charged following. In 2008, police busted $8 million worth of drugs in a light plane flying to Jandakot Airport from NSW, kick-starting the largest police operation in history. An alleged plot to smuggle 99kg of meth into Australia came to a dramatic end when the getaway van crashed into police car. Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon, email newsletters for your daily news roundup. This comp is for you! Arrests being made at Hillarys Boat Harbour. exclusive Three men charged over alleged plot to bring $100m worth of meth into WA Daryna Zadvirna The West Australian Tue, 4 January 2022 10:00AM The picture above shows the gripping moment in a suburb south-east of Perth when an alleged highly planned importation of 99kg of meth came to a dramatic end. Now, we did actually split those drugs up, even though they were seized from the United States, we reconstructed them using plaster of Paris. Inert Cocaine is dropped in the ccean by WA Police. Cool Runnings is towed by offenders onboard another vessel Catalina . Police watch as offenders on board a boat stashed with drugs tows a smaller boat. Police seize firearms, vehicles and drugs in Operation Ironside. "I say that it's a magnificent effort to defend our shores," WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. Cool Runnings had issues with steering and washed ashore south of Moore River. Police search bushland in Wellard as part of Operation Kingston Alcatraz. 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. Operation Beech kicked off in November after Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized a record 2.4 tonnes of cocaine allegedly bound for Australia off the South American coast. Unknown to the cartel, the drugs were switched out with identical fakes, made from plaster-of-paris. Blanch said WA Police were supported by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, which monitors organised crime groups across the country and the world. Acting deputy police commissioner Tony Longhorn said Australia was an attractive proposition for would-be drug dealers. "I did say this as this was the defence I was running," he wrote in a letter from Acacia Prison. 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. 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. Shit happens.". 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. (modern). A 62-year-old man was arrested and charged over the stash. WA PoliceCommissioner Chris Dawson said another 45-year-old Victorian man, Mohammed Charif Oueida, was"the principal person behind this particular importation into Western Australia". Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. Are you a deadset writing legend? It also shows police raiding a house in Carlisle where another person alleged to be involved with the syndicate was arrested. after Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized a record 2.4 . Deputy Commissioner Tony Longhorn said: "It's a confidence booster every time we do these operations we're testing the limitations of our capabilities.". Tue, 25 April 2023 3:52PM. 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. The operation took place over three states, including WA and netted more than 20 kilograms of cannabis and 16 kilograms of methylamphetamine. It was at this point, under the cover of darkness, that the TRG officers struck. 'Okay, without being fantastic': Alan Joyce's legacy after 15 years at the helm of Qantas. Being a playboy: Musicians shock take on WOMANISING, Terri Irwin UNRECOGNISABLE in stunning new look. "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.". 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. He has since been spotted in Cyprus, Spain and Dubai, with Australian authorities suspecting he is the mastermind behind a massive drug lab in India capable of exporting tonnes of methamphetamine around the world. Our job is to protect this community and well go after whoever seeks to harm us.. 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. Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia WA police are working with their overseas partners to track down the people who organised the shipment. Auto news:2022 Maserati SUV lineup due by the end of the year - drive.com.au, Your web browser is no longer supported. 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. As Bankstown pilot Jamieson Santos was preparing to land his twin-engined 1970s Piper Aztec at a busy airport on the outskirts of Perth a dozen grim-faced police officers were waiting on the hot tarmac. A tactical police officer guards a . Credit: 7NEWS/supplied Forensic specialists estimated there was about 99kg of meth inside the pillows, with a street value of at least $100 million.