Two Sydney men accused of being part of a criminal syndicate linked to an alleged plot to import more than 850 kilograms of MDMA into the state in 2019 have appeared in court.
Key points:
- The investigation allegedly prevented 15 million ecstasy tablets reaching Australia
- Police allege the drug bust is linked to a major international syndicate with 13 people so far arrested
- In 2019, drugs were found concealed in tins of tomatoes in a shipping container
Tony Spitaleri, 46, and Anthony Squadrito, 19, were arrested in Sydney on Wednesday and extradited to Queensland, both charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Both men appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday morning, where their lawyer made no application for bail.
They are accused of being members of an Australian-based criminal syndicate linked to an alleged plot to import the MDMA into Queensland.
Police said the amount of MDMA had an estimated street value of $302 million and had the potential to be processed into more than 15 million MDMA tablets in Australia.
Drugs allegedly hidden in tins of tomatoes
The arrests were connected to a major joint international investigation which originated in the Netherlands in 2019, where ecstasy was allegedly found in cans of tomatoes in a shipping container.
AFP Detective Superintendent Helen Schneider said the joint investigation prevented 15 million ecstasy tablets from reaching Australian shores.
"We allege a Netherlands-based syndicate were preparing to export, sell and distribute these drugs to Australian-based syndicates," she said.
Supplied: AFP
)Detective Superintendent Schneider said the Queensland taskforce comprised of six departments and worked with international partners to stop the alleged shipment from the Netherlands.
She said 13 people have so far been charged.
Chemicals were also allegedly uncovered in barns and residences, hidden behind double walls, double ceilings and double floors.
In 2019, a 48-year-old woman from Bass Hill in New South Wales was extradited to Brisbane and charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs as part of the same investigation.
Detective Superintendent Schneider said the maximum penalty the men face was life imprisonment.
Their matters will return to court next month.
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2021-04-29 23:48:45Z
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