Huge commercial fishing drug syndicate caught in Sydney

In July 2014, detectives from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NSW Police Force (NSWPF) State Crime Command’s Drug Squad commenced Operation Okesi to investigate suspected drug trafficking by commercial fishermen in Sydney.

The operation has just netted approximately $360 million of cocaine and busted what police say was a complex syndicate involving commercial fishers. You can see the implicated tuna boat, a luxury cruiser that was also searched, and a big RIB caught at Apple Tree Bay boat ramp near Brooklyn in Sydney in the photos above.

The international multi-agency operation, which ran for more than two-and-a-half years, has now seen 15 men aged 29-63yo charged with importing 500kg of the drug into NSW. More than 600 kilograms of cocaine was seized previously in Tahiti which, Police say, was also destined for Australia.

Following a December 2014 seizure of 32kg of heroin by authorities in Fiji, and the March 2016 seizure of 606kg of cocaine by authorities in Tahiti, investigations then progressed to catch the big fish in Sydney.

Police say a vessel of interest was identified departing the Sydney Fish Markets on Saturday, December 3, 2016, and later returned to the Central Coast of NSW. The vessel was monitored by Maritime Border Command within the ABF and NSWPF’s Marine Area Command.

On Christmas night (Sunday, December 25, 2016), a small tender was launched from this vessel with one man on-board. With the assistance of the NSWPF Marine Area Command and ABF officers and detector dogs, the AFP monitored the tender’s arrival at Parsley Bay in Brooklyn, NSW. The tender was met by another two males.

At that time, the resolution phase of the operation was initiated. Three men were arrested and approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine seized at Parsley Bay. Further forensic testing will be conducted to determine its exact weight and purity.

Following this, a number of search warrants were executed across Sydney, and a further four men arrested. Since the operation on Christmas night, a further four men have been arrested in the Sydney suburbs of Zetland, Double Bay, Kingsford, and Greenacre.

All 11 men appeared in Sydney Central Court on Monday, 26 December 2016, and Tuesday, 27 December 2016, each charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs. Bail was refused for all 11 men.

On Tuesday, December 27, 2016, a further two men were arrested in Brisbane, Queensland, and Hobart, Tasmania. They appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court and Hobart Magistrates Court, respectively, also charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and their extradition to NSW was granted.

A further two men have also been arrested in Ulladulla on the South Coast of NSW. Both men appeared in Nowra Local Court, also charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs. Bail was refused for both men.

The Sydney Morning Herald said Police will allege veteran fisherman, fishing company bosses and maritime workers around the country helped the cargo reach shore.

The paper said Ulladulla brothers Michael and Francesco "Frankie" Pirrello were arrested, along with Joseph "Joe" Pirrello, a veteran Ulladulla fisherman who courted controversy in 2013 by trying to bring super-trawlers to Australia.

Joe Pirrello, who runs large-scale Australian fishing company Seafish Tasmania, tried to bring the super-trawler Abel Tasman (formerly Margiris) to Australian waters. After a public outcry, the government banned the trawlers.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs is life imprisonment.   

Acting ABF Assistant Commissioner, Tim Fitzgerald, said these transnational criminal networks were well-resourced.

"As we improve our capabilities to detect drugs in sea and air cargo, we know they will continue to evolve and employ sophisticated efforts to breach the Australian border," Acting Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald said.

There has been a string of boating-related drug busts over the years, including this recent story we ran titled: This old runabout at Palm Beach had $54m of drugs aboard.

As time goes by, you can see the police and border agencies getting a lot smarter and more adept at detecting drug boats and mounting multi-agency international ops. Great work.