A Sydney man has been charged over an attempt to import more than 900 kilograms of cocaine into Australia.
Mostafa Baluch was initially charged with a raft of offences in early June as part of ongoing investigations into an organised criminal syndicate involved in a plan to supply three tonnes of cocaine throughout NSW.
On Wednesday the 33-year-old was charged with an additional offence of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
Baluch was arrested at his waterfront home in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on June 3 and charged with possessing anabolics, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of a crime and supplying a prohibited drug, NSW Police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Police said they seized $A62,700 and $US12,000, four mobile phones, two of which were encrypted, an ounce of cocaine, steroids and jewellery during the arrest.
Police said the operation began in early 2020 when police received a tip about someone gambling a "significant amount of money" at a Sydney casino.
During the investigation detectives uncovered a transnational organised crime syndicate across Australia and North and South America.
An international police operation began involving NSW Police, the NSW Crime Commission, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Navy.
In October last year the US Navy intercepted a boat in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Colombia and seized 870kg of cocaine. In April this year the US Coast Guard seized a further 900kg of cocaine, after intercepting a second vessel off Ecuador.
Police allege Baluch was the sole financier of the second shipment of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $270 million.
He appeared in Central Local Court on Wednesday and was again refused bail.
Police allege both seizures formed part of a conspiracy to supply a total of 3000kg of cocaine which has a total estimated potential street value of $900 million.
Australian Associated Press
