MAST arrests
Share and Follow

An alleged multimillion-dollar drug importation scheme has been undone after police narrowed in on who they described as a “trusted insider” in Sydney.

Strike Force Aulic, including officers from NSW Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, NSW Crime Commission, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre, and Australian Taxation Office, was established in 2023.

It was set up to investigate the alleged importation and supply of large quantities of illegal drugs and illicit tobacco by Gurvinder Singh, 42, and his associates.

MAST arrests
Seven men have been charged in a long-running investigation into alleged drug imports into Sydney. (NSW Police)
MAST arrests
The men face a range of charges. (NSW Police)

Police allege Singh told others of his abilities to circumvent border controls and had been using a freight company in Punchbowl to facilitate the imports.

In July last year, police found more than 280kg of liquid methamphetamine in an industrial cooler imported from Vancouver, Canada, allegedly organised by Singh.

On August 5 that year, two men, aged 43 and 31, were allegedly seen accessing the cooler and preparing to extract the liquid meth at a location in Riverstone.

Police arrested the 43-year-old man at a fast-food restaurant in Londonderry about 7pm that same day.

Officers searched an address in the same suburb and allegedly found gel blasters, a meth cookbook, and other items used to manufacture and supply drugs.

The man was charged with 17 offences, including commercial-level drug possession and weapons charges.

He was refused bail and appeared in court on August 6 last year.

MAST arrests
The multi-agency investigation began in 2023. (NSW Police)

During a search warrant in Box Hill that same day, investigators arrested a 31-year-old man.

He was charged with being part of a criminal group and granted bail.

He appeared in court on September 4 last year.

Police continued to investigate Singh, who allegedly continued to use the freight forwarding company to import three separate consignments, containing more than 20 million cigarettes, from the United Arab Emirates.

In May, investigators discovered he was allegedly planning to import 50kg of cocaine in a shipping container from Panama, concealed in cement bags.

MAST arrests
The crime group allegedly used a freight forwarding company. (NSW Police)
MAST arrests
It’s alleged the group tried to import 50kg of cocaine in cement bags. (NSW Police)

Police alleged Singh sought help from two men who flew in from Canada to retrieve the cocaine from the cement bags and onward supply it to organised crime groups in NSW.

About 2pm on Friday, investigators arrested four men in Wetherill Park and executed six search warrants in Moorebank, Punchbowl, Smithfield, Doonside and Mount Annan.

Singh was charged with multiple offences related to drugs, proceeds of crime, and directing a criminal group.

He remains in custody and will next appear in court on July 31.

MAST arrests
Five people were arrested last Friday and Saturday. (NSW Police)

Another 42-year-old man was charged with attempted drug importation and criminal group participation.

He was refused bail and will next appear in court on June 5.

Two Canadian nationals, aged 24 and 31, were both charged with attempted drug possession and criminal group participation.

They were refused bail and will appear in court on June 13.

MAST arrests
Police seized a number of items during a series of search warrants. (NSW Police)

Police seized a number of items during the searches, including 243 boxes allegedly containing tobacco, at two storage facilities in Moorebank.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at Sydney Airport about 6.50pm on Saturday.

He was charged with illicit tobacco importation and criminal group participation.

He was refused bail and appeared in court yesterday.

A total of seven men are behind bars, but police say the investigation remains ongoing. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
CCTV has captured the moments after sacked Fox Sports reporter James Hooper allegedly crashed into three parked cars while drunk in Sydney.

CCTV Records the Aftermath of Former Fox Sports Reporter’s Suspected Drunken Car Crash

CCTV has captured the moments after sacked Fox Sports reporter James Hooper…
The four victims of murders in Tennessee, United States; Cortney Rose, Matthew Wilson, Adrianna Williams and Braydon Williams.

Suspect Identified in Grisly Four-Person Homicide

Investigators are looking for a man they allege killed four relatives of…
A fire on a Melbourne train caused by an e-bike earlier this year

E-Rideables Could Soon Be Banned on Public Transport

As fires caused by e-bikes are becoming more common by the week,…
President Donald Trump listens during an event to sign an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump Directs US Nuclear Submarines to Relocate Following Comments by Former Russian Leader

In a warning to Russia, President Donald Trump said he’s ordering the…

Australian Activists Claim They Were Strip-Searched and Bruised During Detention in Israel

Two Australians detained by Israeli naval officers while attempting to sail aid to…
The top 10 Lions tours, ranked: Where does the class of 2025 sit and how high would a whitewash take them?

The Top 10 Lions Tours Ranked: How the 2025 Lineup Compares and What a Clean Sweep Could Mean

Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions class of 2025 stand on the…
This photo provided by Neima Benavides, right, shows her and her sister, Naibel Benavides Leon in the Dominican Republic in 2018, celebrating Naibel's 21st birthday. (Neima Benavides via AP)

Jury verdict: Tesla liable for over $370 million in Autopilot accident lawsuit

A Miami jury decided that Elon Musk’s car company Tesla was partly…
NEWS: Pro Palestine Action Group demonstrate outside the US consulate in North Sydney to put these demands to the incoming Trump administration. Photo: Wolter Peeters, 21st January 2025, The Sydney Morning Herald.

Judge Rules Supreme Court Allows Pro-Palestine Protest on Harbour Bridge

The NSW Supreme Court will not stop a pro-Palestine protest across the…