Australian Federal Police say they have disrupted a sophisticated international criminal network and stopped a shipment of drugs worth $40 million from entering Victoria, as part of Operation Ironside.
The agency said five people had been arrested as part of its investigation into the importation of more than 160 kilograms of cocaine into Melbourne.
The AFP said it became aware the cocaine would arrive in Melbourne via Sydney from Hong Kong late last month — and a criminal syndicate operating out of Hong Kong and Turkey was using encrypted communications to coordinate the shipment.
The cocaine was allegedly hidden in a shipment of air filters and was seized by authorities when it arrived in Melbourne.
A 42-year-old Sydney man — who is accused of being the coordinator of the crime syndicate — has been arrested, along with four Victorian men.
The Victorians include a 26-year-old Taylors Hill man, a 31-year-old Keilor East man and a 28-year-old St Kilda East man.
The men were each remanded in custody to reappear again at a later date.
All five have been charged with a range of offences.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Southern Command Bruce Giles said intelligence from Operation Ironside had enabled the AFP to again disrupt an alleged sophisticated criminal network and prevented more than approximately $40 million of harmful illicit drugs from entering the Victorian community.
"Operation Ironside has opened the door to unprecedented collaboration across law enforcement agencies around the globe and across the nation," Assistant Commissioner Giles said.
"This historic moment should serve as the strongest warning to criminals yet – we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit to target and disrupt your illicit operations and to bring you to justice."
The global policing sting Operation Ironside involved law enforcement agencies around the world, and used encrypted messaging service AN0M to lure criminals into revealing their secrets.
