Three men have arrested in Melbourne following a Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOTCF) investigation which led to the seizure of 45kg of cocaine hidden in juke box that had been imported from Greece. One of the three men arrested is said to be a Greek national.
Along with the drugs, a haul estimated to be worth $20 million, police also seized cash, luxury goods, including watches and jewellery and vehicles. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported that the consignment had been delivered to an address in Sunshine North where the arrests were made.
The three men, a man from Spotswood aged 39, a 26-year-old man from Reservoir and the 66-year-old Greek national appeared in a Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The Greek national was released pending further charges but the two Melbourne men face drug-importation charges and were remanded in custody.
Police also raided residential address in Spotswood, Reservoir as well as commercial premises in Toorak and Kingsville. The arrests followed a four-month investigation into the importing of drugs by a syndicate based in Melbourne, Acting Detective Superintendent Andrew Stamper told the media.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who bring that harm to our state are held to account, and that these criminal syndicates are strongly and deliberately targeted,” he said.
“Our aim is to ensure we disrupt the organised crime syndicates responsible for these imports, so to charge two people as well as effecting these seizures is extremely satisfying.
Australian Federal Police Detective Inspector Mark McKiernan said it was likely the drugs would have been distributed across Victoria.
“We will allege that the men arrested yesterday are significant syndicate members,” Detective Inspector McKiernan said.
The JOCT consists of members of the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and Department of Home Affairs.