- KeeNan Mickley, 48, and Taj Mickley, 23, are behind bars.
- Police watched as they allegedly attempted to recover cocaine.
- The drugs allegedly sent from Vietnam arrived in August
An accredited NRL player agent and his son have been arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle 50kg of cocaine worth $16 million into Australia.
Police watched as Keenan Mickley, 48, and Taj Mickley, 23, allegedly attempted to remove drugs from a generator imported from Vietnam at an industrial address on Sydney’s northern beaches last month.
What the couple didn’t know was that authorities had already seized the cocaine.
“Port Botany officers identified anomalies in an industrial generator during a routine inspection of maritime cargo from Vietnam,” an AFP spokeswoman said..
“Upon further examination of the machinery, Australian Border Force officers identified a powdery substance which returned a suspected reading of cocaine.”
Police allowed the generator to be transported to the Cromer industrial complex, where Mickley, who also works as a mortgage broker, had allegedly rented the industrial estate.
The father and son were arrested at the scene on September 30 and have both been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
“Police also reportedly found evidence that the man made cash transfers abroad to a known criminal facilitator and recently traveled to Vietnam,” AFP said in a statement.
Accredited NRL player agent Keenan Mickley (pictured) and his son Taj have been arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle 50kg of cocaine worth $16 million into Australia.
Taj Mickley (pictured) was also charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
Police will allege the drugs arrived in Australia from Vietnam hidden in a generator (pictured)
The father and son also bought two angle grinders from Bunnings in an alleged attempt to extract the drugs from the generator.
According to his LinkedIn page, Keenan Mickley became an NRL agent just under a year ago (pictured, AFP agents arresting one of the two)
“On September 30, AFP agents observed that the 48-year-old man and his 23-year-old son were trying to access a generator compartment where the drugs were hidden.”
According to your LinkedIn pageMickley became an NRL agent just under a year ago.
“I am proud to announce that I am now an NRL Accredited Player Agent,” he posted.
“I’m looking forward to mentoring some young rugby league players to hopefully eventually realize their dream of playing in the NRL and NRLW.
“Keep an eye on Beaches Sports Management.”
Mickley is also said to be the director of LJ Hooker Home Loans Northern Beaches.
Online, he called himself a “long-term area local” who has “a strong understanding of the Northern Beaches real estate market.”
Police investigations into the union continue.