NZer among three facing Melbourne drug ring charges

AUCKLAND: A New Zealander is among a trio of people due in court in relation to the bust of an international drug ring in Australia.

The Australian Federal Police allege the group used a Bitcoin business as a front for a crime syndicate that sourced and distributed illicit drugs.

Steen McBeth (28) faces charges related to importing cocaine, MDMA and crystal methamphetamine, the Daily Mail Australia reported.

McBeth is from New Zealand, where his parents, Denise and Murray, founded the postal services company Pete’s Post.

McBeth and another man, Jackson Li, were arrested in October 2017 after Border Patrol officers found suspicious mail packages at Melbourne Airport in February that year, the Daily Mail

reports.

The federal police said that concealed inside the mail were 15.8kg of MDMA, 2.6kg of cocaine and 1.1kg of ketamine.

Three search warrants were used to raid properties in the Melbourne suburbs of Mernda and Kew.

During the search warrants, police seized a large quantity of drugs including 1kg of crystal methamphetamine (ice), 700 grams of cocaine, 10kg of MDMA, 1kg of cannabis, 1kg of ketamine and 10 vials of testosterone.

Police also seized a large quantity of cash and also a Lamborghini sports car, believed to be the proceeds of crime.

McBeth’s arrest came just days after he picked up the keys to the Lamborghini, which he had bought from Sam Karagiozis, according to the Daily Mail.

While the pair were in custody, police allege Karagiozis (27) played a key role in directing the criminal syndicate’s operation, which used various dark net sites, bitcoin accounts and legitimate business for the sourcing, payment and distribution of the illicit drugs.

Karagiozis, known for having ‘‘selfmade’’ tattooed on his knuckles, was arrested in March 2019.

Property valued at more than $2 million was restrained.

This included several bank accounts, real estate properties, motor vehicles, a motorbike, cash and cryptocurrency.

AFP Detective Superintendent Paul Hopkins said last month that targeting assets allowed authorities to remove the profit motivation that drove most criminal activity.

‘‘When you take the profit out of crime, you hit offenders where it hurts most. Combined with serious criminal charges attracting long prison sentences, this highlights how trafficking drugs is simply not worth it in the longrun,’’ Det Supt Hopkins said.

‘‘Investigations such as this are inherently complex and the operational results achieved by the investigative team are a testament to good police work and strong interagency cooperation.’’ Karagiozis is charged with 14 offences relating to drug trafficking, importing and also dealing with the proceeds of crime. McBeth faces 16 charges and Li has so far been charged with eight offences.

The trio are due to appear before the Melbourne County Court next month. — NZME