A coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies has led to the arrest of seven individuals in connection with the importation of illegal drugs into Sydney. The operation, known as Strike Force Aulic, was launched in 2023 and includes personnel from the NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force, and other relevant organisations.
The investigation zeroed in on a 42-year-old man and his associates, who allegedly played key roles in the importation and distribution of substantial amounts of illegal drugs and illicit tobacco. Authorities suspect the group was attempting to evade border checks and used a freight forwarding company based in Punchbowl to facilitate their operations.
A significant breakthrough occurred in July 2022 when police uncovered over 280 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine concealed within an industrial cooler that had been shipped from Vancouver, Canada, supposedly orchestrated by the 42-year-old suspect. On August 5 of the same year, officers observed two men, aged 43 and 31, preparing to extract the drug from the cooler at a site in Riverstone. The older man was apprehended later that evening at a fast-food outlet in Londonderry and faced 17 charges, including commercial drug possession and weapons offences.
The investigation continued to unfold with the apprehension of additional suspects. On the same day, a 31-year-old was arrested during a search warrant in Box Hill; he faces charges linked to being part of a criminal group. Detectives maintained pressure on the 42-year-old individual, who allegedly sought to orchestrate the importation of cocaine concealed in cement bags from Panama.
Recent arrests include a 36-year-old man at Sydney Airport who was charged with illicit tobacco importation, alongside two Canadian nationals, aged 24 and 31, also facing serious drug-related charges. Multiple search warrants executed across several locations yielded evidence, including 243 boxes of tobacco at storage facilities, further implicating the group.
The ongoing investigation reflects a significant push against organised crime and drug trafficking in New South Wales, with authorities committed to dismantling such criminal networks. The 42-year-old man, now facing various charges, will remain in custody and reappear in court to face the allegations.