Three employees at Sydney Airport have been sentenced for their involvement in a scheme to smuggle 100 kilograms of cocaine in the cargo hold of a commercial flight. Among those sentenced was a 57-year-old former logistics manager residing in Mascot, who received a three-year prison term.
Accompanying him were a 63-year-old man from Coogee and a 25-year-old individual from Sydney, who were handed sentences of ten years and two years and nine months, respectively, for their roles in the operation. The investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) was initiated in October 2022 following reports of suspicious activities near the cargo area associated with a flight arriving from Johannesburg.
The AFP detailed that the two other men exploited their positions at the airport to facilitate the drug importation from the international flight. One of them was responsible for collecting the cocaine at the airport to distribute it within Australia.
All three men were convicted of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug—cocaine—and possessing a substantial amount of the substance. Additionally, two other individuals associated with the alleged drug syndicate are still awaiting trial.
Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty of the AFP emphasised their commitment to disrupting organised crime groups attempting to smuggle illegal substances through airports. He cautioned those drawn in by the lure of quick riches from drug trafficking, stating that such crimes could result in severe penalties, including life imprisonment.