Two people have been charged on the Gold Coast following a mammoth 18-month-long drug importation investigation.
Detectives began investigating in September 2021, looking into the alleged supply and importation of meth and cocaine into NSW.
It was sparked by the discovery of two separate batches that were intercepted in the USA by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and US Customs and Border Protection.
Six kilograms of the drugs worth $12.6 million were allegedly busted, with the meth concealed within machinery and the cocaine within a stone bench top.
Queensland Police arrested a 38-year-old man during a vehicle stop in Miami yesterday morning, Tuesday 28 March.
A short time later, a 37-year-old woman was arrested at a home along Marine Parade, Miami.
The home was then raided, where officers allegedly found and seized a number of items, including documentation relevant to the investigation.
Both were taken to Southport Magistrates Court, where Drug and Firearms Squad detectives applied for and were granted, their extradition to NSW.
The man has been charged with two counts of attempt import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drug, and one count each of knowingly direct activities of criminal group, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, and deal with property proceeds of crime.
The woman has been charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, obtain financial advantage by deception, deal with property proceeds of crime, wilfully make false declaration for material benefit, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal.
They were both refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today.
Police will allege in court the man assisted in facilitating the attempted import of both consignments.
It will be further alleged the man laundered proceeds of crime through an online betting account between 2014 and 2017 to avoid law enforcement detection.
Previously on Wednesday 17 November, a then 26-year-old man was also arrested and charged in relation to the alleged importation; he remains before the courts.
