From Vietnam: Father and son charged after cocaine found in sea cargo
The AFP has charged a father and son from Sydney’s northern beaches for their alleged roles in jointly attempting to possess 50kg of cocaine concealed in industrial machinery.
The men —Keenan Mickley 48 & Taj Mickley 23 appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court on 1 October, 2024 —after they were arrested and charged by AFP officers on 30 September, 2024.
An investigation started in August, 2024, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Port Botany identified anomalies in an industrial generator during a routine inspection of sea cargo from Vietnam.
Upon further examination of the machinery, ABF officers identified a powdered substance which returned a presumptive reading for cocaine. ABF then alerted the AFP.
AFP forensic members deconstructed the generator and allegedly found 50kg worth of cocaine concealed inside the machine.
This consignment could have been sold as 250,000 individual street deals, with an estimated street value of $16,250,000.
The AFP removed the illegal drugs and enabled the machinery to be delivered, monitoring the consignment as it was transported to an industrial complex on Sydney’s Northern beaches.
Investigations by the AFP allegedly identified the 48-year-old who had leased the industrial complex. Police also allegedly found evidence the man made overseas cash transfers to a known criminal facilitator, and recently travelled to Vietnam.
On Monday, 30 September, 2024, AFP officers allegedly observed the 48-year-old and his son, 23, attempt to access a compartment in the generator where the drugs had been hidden.
It will be alleged the men departed the industrial property on two occasions to purchase separate angle grinders and associated materials from a local hardware store.
The AFP arrested and charged both men with jointly attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drug, contrary to section 11.1(1) and 307.5(1) with 11.2A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment. (AFP)
