NZ's biggest drug bust: Alleged drug traffickers plead not guilty over NZ POLICE/Supplied. 12:38, May 02 2022. All times AEDT (GMT +11). More than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine were found in a massive drug bust in Norco last month, making it the largest seizure of meth for the DEA's Los Angeles Division. Details of the failed drug trafficking plan emerged following the termination of Operation Trojan Shield - described as the "sting of the century" and a huge blow to New Zealand's criminal fraternity. In Australia, 224 people were arrested including members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, mafia groups, Asian crime syndicates, and serious and organised crime groups. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) Dozens of people were arrested, and more than 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly $16 million was seized in the Southern California area amid a nationwide operation . The Comanchero gang, the charter boat birthday party, and the botched We will be a stepahead. We appreciate the assistance provided by Customs in this operation, particularly with the exceptional profiling of shipments from high-risk countries which end up resulting in these large interceptions. But intelligence information gleaned from the police operation revealed the plan to investigators and police swooped. However, in 2010, as the Australian branch of the syndicate started to unravel, Ayik fled the country. The gear would then be cooked or cut if needed and distributed across the country using light planes like Santos', all while the Comancheros ensured the drugs and the syndicate's main actors would be protected as the enterprise's de-facto security arm. www.heraldsun.cohttps://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/how-operation-ironsides-an0m-sting-put-a-hole-in-bikie-gangs/news-story/02b33f401ffff4ec7c87546646fcc5c9. A scuffed copy of the Koran. The arrests were made after 24 properties were. The Aztec at a hangar at Jandakot Airpot. 'Essentially, they have handcuffed each other by endorsing and trusting AN0M and openly communicating on it not knowing we were watching the entire time.'. A police investigation into the bust later uncovered more than 100 messages and calls between Micalizzi and two syndicate figures named 'Oz' and 'Bowa', a fake NSW driver's licence, three mobile numbers registered under false names and $9000 in cash. You can make a contribution from as little as $1. Australia's biggest ever police bust used encrypted app to intercept messages Alleged bikies and associates make up a third of 303 Operation Ironside arrests Hardest hit gang were the Comancheros . "Ah, we have an issue here," Detective Morrish said as he peeked inside the bag. We provided the technical capability to decrypt those messages,' he said. Police have arrested 12 people, including senior members of the Comancheros and Rebels gangs, as part of an operation targeting the drug trade. IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRIVACY & SAFETY'. The mobile phones, which were bought on the black market, could not make calls or send emails. Police also seized a number of assets and eight luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista worth more than $630,000, and a 2020 Porsche 911 Coupe, worth more than $230,000. Senior leaders of the Comancheros and Rebels gangs have been arrested and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash seized following a raft of armed police raids across Auckland and Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook Pictured: weapons seized by detectives, Australia's world-first Assistance and Access Act passed in 2018 allows intelligence agencies to require tech companies to hand over encrypted messages. How Boris Johnson's Partygate tormentor Sue Gray is now enmeshed in her own row - as it is DAN HODGES: This grubby Sue Gray recruitment annihilates all pretence that Sir Keir Starmer is a man of Matt Hancock discussed 'deploying' new virus variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' as former Health 'So many dead. Police said the nine-month investigation, run by the National Organised Crime Group, targeted a core group that are alleged to be involved in the importation, distribution and manufacture of methamphetamine and MDMA, and other drugs in the two cities. About five kilograms of the drug was found hidden in a car being transported to Perth from Sydney, while a search of 13 premises in Perth overnight turned up a further 210g. bikies, and reality TV stars arrested and charged. The arrests and seizures were part of Operation Baystone, which began after 2.7kg of methamphetamine was found in the Perth suburb of Stirling in December last year. 'He's (Ayik) essentially leveraged his position of trust in the underworld to push this platform and that's what generated its success. The shipment of 613 kilograms of methamphetamine was intercepted by police and Customs at Auckland Airport on Thursday. From Whyalla they travelled to Forrest, a popular refuelling stop more than 1100km east of Perth, near the South Australian border. The phones were stripped down - they couldn't even make calls, access the internet or send emails. "This is a very significant bust - 7.5kg of amphetamines over a couple of months.". Because with the pandemic situation constantly changing, its easy for misinformation and rumours to take hold. Police have arrested 12 more people today as part of Operation Cincinnati and located drugs, some of which was ready for sale, and a shotgun after executing 24 search warrants. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Former Bachelorette star Samuel Minkin, who appeared on Becky and Elly Miles' season of the dating show, was charged with possessing a large commercial quantity of cannabis after police stopped a van in Byron Bay last month. Its bits and bobs are now scattered across his verandah and the tail and fuselage sit in a backyard in Perth's north, a dire reminder of the plane that once sat in the middle of Australia's own war on drugs and that changed law enforcement forever. 'This comes from the number of significant arrests. Ayik, then in his early 30s, had made a fortune by forging alliances with Chinese triads, Indian chemical suppliers, the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang and known underworld figures to create a multi-billion dollar international drug syndicate spanning across continents. 'It's just pure revenue, it's a bit like selling Amway for him. New Zealand Customs staff, Armed Offenders Squad members, Asset Recovery Unit and Police Dog Section staff assisted police with the searches. Drug kingpin and Comancheros bikie associate Hakan Ayik has spent the last decade on the run from Australian authorities after fleeing the country in 2010. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. We will abolish superannuation tax: Shadow treasurer, Bankman-Fried can have flip phone on bail, US proposes, Woman charged over pursuit through suburbs in stolen ute, Man to face court over death of teenage motocyclist, NSWs new hired gun in heist on WAs hard-earned GST cash, Victoria to dump minor offence reverse-onus bail test. The Comanchero Motorcycle Club New Zealand president feared he was about to be arrested eight months before a major police bust and also suspected police were bugging his phone, a jury has been told. In total, police seized vehicles worth over $1.2 million. Four men and a woman have been charged with drug trafficking after officers executed search warrants at their homes on Wednesday. Dozens of people have been arrested after a police massive operation targeting alleged drug supply by outlaw bikie gangs. 7NEWS can reveal the bust is linked to exiled bikie Mark Buddle of the Comancheros.Police are making good progress dismantling his alleged empire of organise. A 33-year-old man from the Comanchero bikie gang was identified by police as the alleged principal offender who engaged in the trafficking and supply of drugs along with other associates. But after Anthony 'You'll be missed forever': Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian share heartfelt tribute to her late ex Shane Mamma Mia! It comes as there have been tonnes of drugs and hundreds of arrests overseas. But during his trial in the WA District Court, Judge Christopher Stevenson said the duo had played a "dangerous game of Russian Roulette" trying to incriminate each other, "the last refuge of a desperate man to avoid any criminal liability". New Zealand's previous largest drug bust was in 2016, when 501kg of methamphetamine was seized in Northland, including 449kg. Desperate drivers are taking to social media to buy and sell demerit points, risking eye-wateringly expensive fines in the process. Credit:Nine News. Get exclusive discounts on movie tickets, dining and popular attractions. Police said they had seized drugs some of which had been packaged ready for sale along with more than $200,000 in cash and a shotgun. By Alana Mazzoni and Daniel Piotrowski and Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 01:08 GMT, 8 June 2021 | Updated: 16:10 GMT, 8 June 2021. Shit happens.". Mildura Comancheros boss Joshua Faulkhead, 39, pleaded guilty to charges related to trafficking of the drugs ice, cocaine and ecstasy, as well as blackmail and causing injury. Sitting at Acacia Prisons crowded visitor room, he says it all began with a phone call from a client looking for a plane ride from Bankstown, in Sydneys south-west, to Jandakot. Police will allege bikie gangs bought a share of drug importations for more than $1 million alongside other criminal groups. This is along way from over.'. A 46-year-old Bracken Ridge man charged with 12 offences including two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs - serious organised crime, four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing property used in the commission of a crime, and once count of possessing property obtained from trafficking. Encrypted platforms were designed to prevent law enforcement agencies from monitoring such criminal activities. The arrests and seizures were part of Operation Baystone, which began after 2.7kg of methamphetamine was found in the Perth suburb of Stirling in December last year. Manukau District Court documents seen by Stuff allege five men participated in an organised criminal group with the shared objective of obtaining material benefits from the possession of methamphetamine for supply. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. New details about a massive WA drug bust which led to the arrest of former Comanchero bikie Mohammed Oueida can be revealed for the first time. He invested his proceeds of crime in hotel and resort developments while living a lavish lifestyle that extended to flashy cars and private yachts. 'Andthese figures are likely to increaseover the coming days. 7NEWS can reveal the bust is linked to exiled bikie Mark Buddle of the Comancheros.Police are making good progress dismantling his alleged empire of organised crime. One man has also been charged with conspiring to import methamphetamine between January and March. AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said federal agents had been in the 'back pockets' of criminals through the encryption app. James Hall @James_P_Hall 3 min read November 23, 2021 - 7:18PM NCA NewsWire The gang members are alleged to have worked with offshore criminal entities to import large quantities of methamphetamine and MDMA which was distributed across New Zealand. "Turn the engine off and get out of the aircraft.". China increases military spending in face of escalating threats. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Steve Milenkovski, 32, of Tuart Hill, Yavuz Ozan, 31, of Kogarah, NSW, and Hao Bi, 26, of East Perth, appeared in East Perth Magistrates Court charged with a range of offences related to the overnight raid. Senior members of the Comancheros gang purchased a catamaran and allegedly planned to rendezvous at sea with a "mothership" bringing large shipments of illicit drugs into New Zealand. Australian bikie gangs have been crippled by almost 100 arrests stemming from the Trojan horse encryped messaging app AN0M. 'The cash that we've seized, which they now owe debts on, the drugs that have been seized which they now owe debts on,' Superintendent McArthur said. He is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He had established his own flying company, Santos Aviation, in 2006 and bought his American-made Aztec a year later with a generous cash donation from a family friend. Personal trainer, 22, describes what working in the fitness industry is like when you're curvy - and why Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane - UFC 285 LIVE: Follow all the action from main card ahead of HUGE heavyweight PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. In 2018, as part of Operation Nova, police detectives from the National Organised Crime Group covertly filmed a drug deal involving the Comancheros motorcycle gang. It comes as there have been tonnes of drugs and hundreds of arrests overseas. New details about a massive WA drug bust which snared former Comanchero bikie Mohammed Oueida can be revealed for the first time, including how one of the three alleged drug smugglers fainted when first arrested by police. Meth bust: Airport baggage handlers smuggle 250kg this year . But until now, its role in one of the biggest law enforcement operations in Australian history has remained a mystery. It wasnt an unusual occurrence. He is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Remote landing strips were and still are a hole in Australia's national security network, too isolated and remote to be monitored effectively. An anonymous blogger known only as 'canyouguess67' posted an article warning users to keep off ANOM for their 'own safety', Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Police have charged 224 alleged offenders with 525 charges, shut down six clandestine laboratories and acted on 21 threats to kill, including saving a family of five. 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Pictured: ammunition seized by police, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the AFP operation, known as Operation Ironside, had struck a 'heavy blow' against criminals, Hakan Ayik (pictured) gave police extensive access to the world's criminal underworld throughencrypted communications app AN0M. Now who the 16 people identified are, what they're charged with, and where they live can be revealed. The covert surveillance led to the termination of dozens of search warrants on Monday and a swathe of arrests putting a heavy dent in the criminal drug trade here and preventing the Comancheros earning millions of dollars from narcotics. Three years ago, Australia Federal Policeidentified Ayik as a key influencer to successfully distribute the encrypted AN0M devices due to his high status in the criminal underworld. Police have arrested 12 people, including senior members of the Comancheros and Rebels gangs, as part of an operation targeting the drug trade. Pilots wondered why it sat there, rusting, and told tall stories about where it came from. Trusted enough to keep an eye on Santos and ensure the safe delivery of the drugs, Judge Stevenson would describe Micalizzi's role as "likely to have not only included some financial reward but some relationship-building with those he was associated with". READ MORE: * Duo jailed after Customs' largest-ever seizure of methamphetamine * Ninety Mile beach meth bust: Police ID kingpins behind massive drug haul * Ninety Mile Beach meth importing trial: Guilty verdicts for both accused.