Father and son with alleged links to Hamze and Alameddine gangs are allegedly arrested trying to import $24 million worth of cocaine in luxury car tire rims
- Sydney father and son arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle in cocaine
- Brendon Khalil and son Simon were arrested by AFP officers in Perth last Friday
- Police claim the pair intended to pick up cocaine smuggled into Western Australia
A father and son with alleged links to the Hamze and Alameddine gangs have been accused of attempting to import $24 million worth of cocaine.
Brendon Khalil (53) and his son Simon (25) were arrested by the Australian Federal Police perth, Western Australialast Friday.
Police allege 140 pounds (66 kg) of cocaine was divided into 56 packets and hidden in Mercedes-Benz Performance bikes imported into the state.
A father and son with alleged links to the Hamze and Alameddine gangs have been accused of attempting to import $24 million worth of cocaine
Police allege 140 pounds (66 kg) of cocaine was divided into 56 packets and hidden in Mercedes-Benz Performance bikes imported into the state
Police swapped the drugs for a harmless substance before releasing the tires for pickup and following them to an address in Nollamarra.
Officials claim the packages were unpacked from the tires by four other people and then picked up by Khalil and his son, who were traveling from Sydney.
The couple then drove to a hotel before heading to a mall in Belmont.
Police claim the couple unpacked the packages to test the drugs before dumping them in a nearby dumpster.
The pair were then arrested by AFP officers while their Sydney homes were searched.
AFP Superintendent Graeme Marshall claimed the men intended to take the drugs between states.
“We suspect these men were plotting to take the cocaine to the eastern states for distribution,” he said.
Police swapped the drugs for a harmless substance before releasing the tires for pickup and following them to an address in Nollamarra
Officials claim the packages were unpacked from the tires by four other people and then picked up by Khalil and his son, who were traveling from Sydney
“Drug trafficking syndicates will try every possible avenue to flood Australia with drugs because they can make a profit, but AFP is working closely with our Commonwealth partners to disrupt these syndicates and protect the Australian community.”
Superintendent Marshall said the large amount of cocaine was worth millions of dollars.
“This batch of cocaine could have been worth nearly $24 million if sold in 1-gram street stores — the investigation has prevented that money from going into the pockets of criminals,” he said.
Both men were charged with bringing in a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
They appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday and were remanded in custody for their next court hearing on Thursday.
The four people who allegedly unpacked the tires have been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
Both men were charged with bringing in a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs
They appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday and were remanded in custody for their next court hearing on Thursday
