Cops foil alleged 900kg cocaine plot

A man alleged to be the Australian leader of a transnational crime organisation has been charged over an alleged botched plot to import 900kg of cocaine into the country that led to bricks of the drug washing up on NSW beaches.

Brisbane man Daniel Wayne John Roberts, 36,was arrested in the northern suburbs on Wednesday and faced court on Thursday over his alleged involvement in the multi-tonne drug plot.

He is facing multiple charges, including seven charges relating to the importation of commercial quantities of drugs and dealing in proceeds of crime.

Mr Roberts, from Aspley, is also facing a further 12 offences over allegations he used violence and threats to collect debts and intimidated rivals by ordering associates to assault, firebomb, shoot at and extort his customers.

Speaking to reporters, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said it would be alleged Mr Roberts co-ordinated the importation of 560kg of cocaine into a “very remote” West Australian town last year.

It is alleged the drugs were dropped overboard from a bulk cargo carrier before being collected from the ocean and brought to shore in the coastal town of Kalbarri.

Six people had already been charged over this, Superintendent Telfer said.

It will be further alleged Mr Roberts attempted to co-ordinate another import of 900kg of cocaine into waters off the coast of Moreton Island, northeast of Brisbane, that was unsuccessful due to adverse weather.

Superintendent Telfer said the drugs could not be located despite search attempts by authorities.

Bricks of the drugs were found along beaches in Mid North Coast, Central Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the South Coast.

The blocks were stamped with labels like Tesla, Zoe, and R-Z.

Superintendent Telfer said between December last year to April this year, NSW Police reported instances of cocaine washing ashore on the eastern coastline.

“We believe this cocaine was from the failed plot by this individual,” he said.

Operation Groot – a major joint investigation under the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (QJOCTF), which includes the AFP, Queensland Police Service (QPS), Australian Border Force, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission – began in early 2023.

Search warrants were executed across Brisbane and the coastal of Hervey Bay, near Fraser Island, by officers attached to the taskforce

The AFP also suspect Mr Roberts was involved in conspiracies to import a further 20 tonnes of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into Australia since late 2023.

“The AFP and our partners are driven to strike at all levels of organised crime groups, and ensure that we make it harder for other criminals to take their place,’’ Superintendent Telfer said.

“That means we will focus on the heads of syndicates and those who work with them.

“Every time someone buys cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine in Australia, they are funding organised crime gangs who are responsible for violence here and around the world.”

Mr Roberts, who is believed to be a “very serious element” of Queensland’s organised crime network, is also alleged to have conspired to import another 450kg of drugs into Queensland via bulk carrier that would have occurred again off the coast of Brisbane.

The combined street value is estimated to be about $617m.

Superintendent Telfer said authorities believed the syndicate was “well connected”, with Mr Roberts alleged to have used encrypted messaging apps under names like “WANTED” and “John Dillinger”.

Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Phelps from the QPS said it would be alleged the Mr Roberts also ordered others to commit arsons in Bulimba and Balmoral between May and August 2023.

He is also accused of ordering shots to be fired into a house at Morningside and a person to be “harassed and intimidated”.

“Being able to charge those persons is a significant outcome to law enforcement,” Superintendent Phelps said.

More arrests are expected to come.

“We will be pursuing everyone involved in this organisation,” Superintendent Telfer said.

“We believe these drugs were coming from all across the globe … this syndicate was well-connected with the global supply chain of prohibited drugs.”

Police believe the 900kg of cocaine was due to be distributed in Brisbane.

About 256kg of the drugs have been recovered from NSW shores – some in large bricks.

“We believe there is more out there,” Superintendent Telfer said.