Qantas baggage handlers charged after allegedly trying to import 100kg of cocaine into Sydney Airport

Two Qantas baggage handlers and three other men have been charged for allegedly trying to import 100kg of cocaine worth $40 million into Sydney Airport.

Australian Federal Police arrested five men on Saturday as part of a major raid on a suspected drug syndicate using insiders at Sydney International Airport.

Baggage handlers Dareen Steven Bragg, 61, and Michael James McPherson, 55, were arrested on the tarmac at the airport just minutes after they allegedly unloaded the drugs from Qantas Flight 64 from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bragg and McPherson, who worked for Jets Transport Express – a Qantas contractor – were reportedly told the 100kg of cocaine would be in four blue and one orange bags.

The drugs, which have a street value of $40 million, were allegedly hidden in a container in the passenger plane’s cargo area.

The import was allegedly facilitated by Ahmed Haouchar – the brother of feared gangster Bilal Haouchar, according to court documents.

The arrests mark the end of a year-long investigation into an international drug operation.

For 12 months, the AFP observed drug syndicates suspected of using flight QF64 as a highway to import illegal substances from South Africa and into Australia.

The investigation, codenamed “Operation Lucian”, began in October 2022 following a report by an airline of suspicious activity occurring near the cargo area of ​​a flight bound for Sydney to Johannesburg.

A month later, investigators intercepted a text exchange between Bragg and McPherson in which they talked about meeting 62-year-old David Peter Cain.

Kain allegedly was instrumental in coordinating with Bragg and McPherson to move the cocaine off the runway and to an associate of the drug syndicate leader.

On Saturday, Bragg went to work at Sydney International Airport and waited for ground crew to unload bags from flight QF64 at 3.08pm.

After the bags were unloaded, Bragg and McPherson allegedly found the drugs on pallet 91394 and towed it toward Gate 6.

The pair then loaded the five bags – each containing 20kg of cocaine – into a white van outside the freight terminal, allegedly driven by 24-year-old Sydney man Ziad El-Mustapha.

The 24-year-old allegedly used Signal – an encrypted messaging app – to contact an unknown person known as ‘Batman’.

Police entered the trio as they were about to leave and allegedly found a handwritten note containing the number ‘91394’ in Bragg’s pocket.

After taking Bragg, McPherson and El-Mustapha into custody, AFP detectives moved to arrest Cain and Haouchar, according to court documents.

Detectives used Bragg’s cell phone to send Cain two text messages at 5:12 p.m.

Driver not on the fence when I turned around. I have the bags in mine. What should I do?’ it says in the first message.

‘Mate getting bored,’ read the second.

Kain allegedly tried to phone his ‘best friend’ before going to Bragg’s block of flats in Coogee, where he was arrested by Operation Lucian officers.

The AFP executed four search warrants at homes in Coogee, Mascot and Hillsdale following the arrests on Saturday, seizing a small amount of drugs and a number of electronic devices.

AFP Detective Constable Kristie Cressy said the AFP is committed to targeting and disrupting organized crime syndicates that undermine Australia’s security.

“Serious international organized crime groups actively seek to corrupt the people who work at our airports because their approach to air operations is an active and efficient way to facilitate the importation of illegal drugs,” Superintendent Cressy said.

“The AFP and its partners – including airport operators, airlines and service providers – treat these issues as a priority because of the harm they can cause to our communities and businesses.”

Superintendent Cressy added that as the alleged ‘facilitator’ of the job, Haouchar is suspected of having links to international organized crime figures.

“People with trusted access to an airport area are critical to the successful operation of Australia’s tourism and trade sectors, but the AFP will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who abuse this trust by aiding and abetting organized crime “, said Superintendent Cressy.

“We will contend that the mastermind behind this importation was well-organized and well-resourced, while the people working with trusted insiders had the potential to aid numerous criminal endeavors if allowed to continue unchecked.”

Bragg, McPherson and El-Mustapha were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine and also possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Police charged Cain with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Haouchar was arrested in Rushcutter’s Bay later on Saturday evening and charged with possession of a commercial quantity of cocaine.

All five men appeared in the Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, making no bail applications.

It is believed Haouchar’s lawyer will make an application for bail on Monday in the Downing Center Local Court.

Bragg, McPherson, El-Mustapha and Cain will face court again on November 30.