A former NRL player and a Bondi businessman have been linked to an alleged drug ring NSW police say was responsible for importing vast amounts of cocaine into the country.
The joint strike force between Australian Federal Police and the New South Wales Police drug squad arrested 15 men and seized about $360 million worth of cocaine.
Former Roosters player John Tobin is one of the accused smugglers, along with Bondi businessman Darren Mohr.
The criminal syndicate was allegedly using a trawler based at the Sydney Fish Market to meet a “mother ship” from South America to bring drugs into the country.
About 500 kilograms of the drug was seized on Christmas Day at Brooklyn on the central coast of New South Wales, and 600 kilograms more was seized in Tahiti on its way to be distributed in Australia.
The police operation had been running for almost three years and escalated with the arrests over the Christmas period.
Officers allege the group of men, aged from 29 to 63, are involved in the Australian criminal syndicate responsible for the attempted imports.
They have been charged with serious drug importation offences and eleven of the 15 men have appeared before Parramatta Local Court and were refused bail.
A 49-year-old man and a 63-year-old man are due to appear before Central Local Court today.
Two other men, a 33-year-old and 39-year-old are also expected to front Nowra Local Court today.
Police said they were confident all alleged members of the criminal syndicate were in custody.
Police are due to address the media at 11am (AEDT).
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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