Police say he was linked to the alleged planned importation of 50 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside refrigerated commercial shipping containers, coming via New Zealand.
The AFP alerted the New Zealand Customs Service, which seized the cocaine in April last year.
A 39-year-old man from Mascot was also arrested.
Then, in October, Australian Border Force officers found two black duffel bags containing 50 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a shipment of plastic furniture.
Police allege the Mascot man was behind that shipment from South America, as well as a third attempted importation of 111 kilograms of cocaine hidden in four duffel bags inside a container, found by ABF officers at Port Melbourne.
The total estimated street value of the cocaine in the three seizures was $68,575,000.
The 39-year-old was charged with three counts of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
Police allegedly found massive amounts of ketamine hidden under the vans’ seats.
The 23-year-old was charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry said these types of investigations “show the resolve of our people in making Australia a hostile environment for organised crime”.
Director of NSW Police State Crime Command, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein, said the seizures reflected police capabilities and “gives a snapshot into how real the problem is”.
The investigation began in 2022, with the AFP’s formation of Operation Drake.
The two men faced Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, where the 39-year-old did not apply for bail. The 23-year-old was granted bail on Monday and his bail was continued. They will return to court on September 4.
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