Police are piecing together a “huge trove” of evidence against a man who is alleged to have been the ringleader of a failed plot to import 900kg of cocaine into Australia.
The Australian Federal Police will allege in court that Daniel Wayne John Roberts, 36, is the Australian leader of the transnational organized crime syndicate that had attempted to import 900 kilos of cocaine.
However, the bungled import job has led to bricks of the drug washing up on New South Wales beaches in recent months.
The AFP alleges that Daniel Wayne John Roberts was the Australian leader of a transnational organized crime syndicate.
Roberts was allegedly in charge of collecting and distributing cocaine and other illicit drugs in Australia, primarily through maritime routes.
He was arrested on April 17 charged with seven offenses related to the importation of commercial quantities of drugs and trafficking in the proceeds of crime.
The matter was briefly mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
The court was told the prosecution was compiling an “extensive brief” of evidence.
A partial brief of evidence was ordered to be completed before the next appearance on July 5.
Mr Roberts was arrested as part of Operation Groot, a major joint investigation by the Queensland Joint Organized Crime Task Force (QJOCTF), which includes the AFP, the Queensland Police Service (QPS), the Force Australian Border Bureau, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Crime Bureau. Intelligence Commission.
Daniel Wayne John Roberts arrested for alleged failed drug importation scheme
It will further be alleged that Mr Roberts called himself WANTED and John Dillinger (the same name as the famous American gangster during the Great Depression) when using dedicated encrypted communication platforms to outsource drug collection work.
Roberts also allegedly played a major role in the importation of nearly two tons of cocaine last year, which has a total estimated street value of $617.5 million.
He also allegedly failed to collect 900kg of cocaine off the coast of Queensland’s Moreton Island in November 2023.
That failed importation plot resulted in packages of drugs washing up on beaches along the New South Wales coast in late 2023 and into 2024.
So far, NSW Police have seized around 256kg of the suspected 900kg after they washed ashore.
Up to 213kg of cocaine has been discovered on the coast between Sydney and Newcastle, of which 90kg was found in the New Year (some of the packages are pictured).
Police will also allege Roberts facilitated the importation and collection of about 560kg of cocaine in the Mid West region of WA in August 2023.
Roberts is also charged with 12 other offenses for allegedly using violence and threats to collect debts and intimidate rivals by enlisting criminal associates to assault, bomb, shoot and extort his clients.
Police have since arrested a second man, Thomas James Pfeffer, in connection with the alleged drug trafficking ring.
The AFP told NCA NewsWire that Pfeffer was arrested as part of Operation Groot.
Pfeffer was charged with one count of trafficking in a commercial quantity of controlled drugs and one count of conspiracy to support serious organized criminal activity.
His matters were also briefly mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, where he was granted a bail variation ordering him not to leave Australia.
The affairs of Mr. Roberts, of Aspley, and Mr. Pfeffer will be mentioned next on July 5. They have not yet submitted statements.
