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Source: ONE News
Three men with alleged links to a drug importation syndicate
operating out of Sydney Airport were past and present airline
catering staff, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) say.
An 18-month joint investigation by the AFP and Australian Customs
led to raids on six Sydney homes and the seizure of a kilogram of
cocaine, worth an estimated street value of $428,601, from Sydney
Airport.
Search warrants were executed at Bexley, Glenwood, Matraville,
Merrylands, Mascot and Maroubra, where quantities of Australian and
foreign currency were also found.
Six men, aged between 20 and 55, have been charged with importing
and conspiring to import border controlled drugs, and dealing in
the proceeds of crime.
AFP acting national manager of aviation, Commander Steve Grant,
said two of the men worked for an airline catering company and one
was a former employee.
"There was a member of the syndicate who brought the drugs onto the
plane ... and secured them within the cabin at a location known to
the (local) catering people," he told reporters in Canberra on
Monday.
"There are no other employees or management within the catering
company that are suspect in this investigation."
Catering staffer Matthew Robert Hay, 43, from Merrylands in
Sydney's west, was charged with importing a commercial quantity and
possessing a marketable quantity of cocaine, allegedly brought into
Australia since April 23, 2009, through Sydney Airport.
His colleague Jose Alquillera, 47, from Glenwood, faced the same
court on identical charges, with police alleging he had been linked
to importing cocaine at some time since February 9, 2008.
Both men were refused bail, with Hay to face court again on
September 28, while Alquillera's next court appearance is scheduled
for November 11.
A third man, Wayne Charles Williams, 55, from Mascot, was charged
with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine and importing a
marketable quantity of cocaine since February 9, 2009.
Magistrate Jane Culver also formally refused him bail and he will
appear before Central Local Court on October 1.
Airline catering company Gate Gourmet confirmed two of its staff
had been arrested over drug trafficking and they had been stood
down.
"The company is actively supporting the Australian Federal Police
in their inquiries," a company spokesman said in a statement.
"Gate Gourmet unconditionally condemns all illegal activity and
supports law enforcement agencies in their pursuit and prosecution
of criminals."
Commander Grant refused to be drawn on where the drugs were coming
from, except to say there was an "overseas connection".
Despite three of the men holding Aviation Security Identification
Cards (ASICs), he said the AFP wouldn't be looking at whether
eligibility criteria for the passes needed tightening.
"This investigation is not concerned with the security of the ASIC
cards, that is a separate process," Commander Grant said.
He said the importation syndicate easily pulled off their
crimes.
"This network is very sophisticated ... it's a very clever
operation that has been easily perpetrated within the security
framework," he said.
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese defended the federal
government's approach to aviation security.
"We constantly review and reassess the ASIC regime put in place by
our predecessors, with the purpose of making sure it continues to
achieve its primary objective of preventing terrorists from gaining
access to sensitive areas of our airports," he said.
Two other men involved in the bust will appear in Central Local
Court on Tuesday, while a sixth man was granted bail and is
expected to appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on
October 27.
The incident is believed to be related to the importation of 5.7kg
of cocaine inside a plane flying from Los Angeles to Sydney in
December 2007, with an estimated street value of $1.9 million.
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