Criminal syndicate sentenced for attempted drug importation black flight into Australia

The black flight crashed, with around $800 million worth of cocaine, while attempting to take-off from a remote airstrip at Papa Lea Lea, north of Port Moresby on July 26, 2020 and was later located by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

The Operation Weathers investigation led to coordinated search warrants across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and PNG as well as the arrest of five men in Australia and four men in PNG.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said Operation Weathers highlights the commitment by domestic and international law enforcement to collaborate and combat organised crime group operating across multiple jurisdictions.

“We had our eyes on this criminal group from a very early stage of this planned importation,” Det-Supt Telfer said.

“Four men in Australia will serve a combined maximum sentence of 54 years’ imprisonment, a result made possible by our committed officers dedicating almost two-years to this multi-agency operation, and our close ties with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

“This importation was a clear demonstration of the lengths criminal groups will go to in order to profit at the expense of our community. It also demonstrates the danger of black flight ventures, and we were lucky no one was killed or seriously injured in the plane crash.”

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A 39-year-old Victorian man was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 13 years. He was convicted of one count of conspiracy to import commercial quantities of border controlled drugs.

A 37-year-old Victorian man was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 12 years. He was convicted of one count of conspiracy to import commercial quantities of border controlled drugs.

A 42-year-old Liverpool man was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of four years. He was convicted of one count of attempt to import commercial quantities of border controlled drugs.

A fourth member of the syndicate, a 67-year-old Melbourne man, was sentenced on 27 March, 2026, to four years’ and six months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months. He was convicted of dealing with proceeds of crime worth $1,000,000 or more; and one count of conducting transactions to avoid reporting requirements relating to threshold transactions.

Four men in PNG were charged over the conspiracy and in September, 2024, the PNG National Court of Justice handed down sentences of between 18 and 19 years’ imprisonment to each of the men.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Commissioner David Manning welcomed the outcome of this investigation and acknowledged the close cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and the RPNGC through Operation Weathers.

“This demonstrates the commitment of both the RPNGC and AFP to pursuing all members of transnational criminal networks, regardless of where they are located, and ensuring they are held accountable under the law,” Commissioner Manning said.

“We commend the investigators and partner agencies involved in this matter and reaffirm our commitment to continuing joint efforts to combat serious and organised crime across the region.

“The growing collaboration with neighbouring jurisdictions as a result of a number of MoU’s being signed ensures greater Pacific collaboration.”

Senior police officers from Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) witnessed the destruction of the 500kg of cocaine in November, 2024, at a secure facility in Queensland following the PNG court outcome.

The fifth Australian-based man, 38, was found not guilty of knowingly participating in the importation plot by a Brisbane Supreme Court jury in May, 2023.

The QJOCTF comprises investigators from the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission with the valuable assistance of the Australian Taxation Office and AUSTRAC.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Executive Director Collection Operations, Andrew Clunas, said this seizure was a stark reminder of the lengths organised crime groups will go to in order to import illicit substances into Australia.

“This sentencing is the culmination of outstanding work over a number of years by all agencies involved, from the intelligence discovery efforts by ACIC through to coordinated disruption activity by law enforcement partners.” Executive Director Clunas said.

“It’s an excellent demonstration of our domestic and international partners working collaboratively to keep these harmful substances out of the community.”

In February 2026, the AFP and Queensland Police Service launched the NQ JOCTF in Cairns to protect vulnerable communities and Australian sovereignty by targeting organised crime, such as people smuggling and drug trafficking, who seek to exploit Far North Queensland.

The NQ JOCTF comprises the AFP, Queensland Police Service, Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.