Police have arrested a high-ranking member of the Comanchero MC during a raid at a West Wollongong home on Sunday. Police allege Emmanuel Vamvoukakis was in the process of importing cocaine into Australia from Greece when he was interrupted by a gangs squad investigation.
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The 40-year-old is charged with conspiracy to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, directing the activities of a criminal organisation and two charges relating to proceeds of crime.
Police have captured a series of messages between Vamvoukakis and an Australian associate living in Greece, between April 10 and June 6, in which the men allegedly conspire to import a kilogram of cocaine via the Australian postal system.
Vamvoukakis was caught on camera as he allegedly paid for the drugs, dropping a brown paper bag containing $50,000 cash in the back of a wating Toyota Camry at Newtown on May 3.
The 39-year-old piqued police interest back in April, when the National Anti-Gangs Squad began investigating his activities and those of his associates.
AFP documents considered by Wollongong Local Court on Monday describe Vamvoukakis as the Sergeant-at-arms of the NSW South Coast Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
Police allege he was responsible for liasing with both onshore and offshore syndicate members to bring cocaine into Australia.
He allegedly attempted to recruit couriers, offering payment of $10,000 for them to collect a parcel after it had arrived in Australia.
A series of messages allegedly shows his associate instructing him from Greece.
On April 10 the associate allegedly told Vamvoukakis his "oil" had landed.
In later messages that month the pair allegedly discussed the purchase of a brick of cocaine for $50,000. Vamvoukakis allegedly said he would find an Australian address for parcel to be delivered to, and said he would pay someone $10,000 to collect it.
The associate went on to send a picture of the caps he would use to secure the tins he proposed transporting the drug in, after Vamvoukakis told him they would be "f---ed" if there was a spill in transit.
After being offered smaller quanitities of the drug, Vamvoukakis allegedly told his associate he would send $50,000 for a whole kilogram and asked if it was "full pearl" with "a nice strong smell".
On May 3 the associate allegedly instructed Vamvoukakis to place $50,000 in the boot of a black Toyota Camry that would be waiting on Walenore Avenue of Alice Street, in Newtown.
Police surveillance captured an unknown Asian woman and a man getting out of the car there about 1pm.
Police photographed Vamvoukakis then getting out off his black Audi RS7, holding a brown paper bag allegedly containing $50,000. He allegedly placed the bag in the Camry's boot, before the woman and man returned to it and drove away.
In later messages, Vamvoukakis allegedly provided a delivery address in suburban Sanctuary Point.
On May 26 the associate allegedly sent pictures showing the one kilogram of cocaine. He went on to send pictures showing he was filtering the drug in water. He allegedly told Vamvoukakis he was going to "boil it out", to "get rid of the smell" before putting it in the post, prompting Vamvoukakis to reply, "do not f--- it up".
The associate allegedly went on to provide images and instructions showing how he would extract the cocaine to its pure form, and plans to conceal it inside a 1.5 litre tin once the process was complete.
AFP agents arrested Vamvoukakis at his Mount Keira Road residence in a raid about 5am on Sunday.
Officers allegedly seized $10,000 in cash, a money-counter and Comanchero OMCG colours.
He did not apply for bail when the matter was briefly mentioned in Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
The matter returns to court June 17.
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