An Indian-origin man, Gurvinder Singh, 42, based in Sydney, Australia, has been apprehended and accused of masterminding a large-scale international drug and tobacco smuggling operation. The two-year investigation, conducted by Australia's Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST), alleges that Singh orchestrated the import of substantial quantities of illicit substances and tobacco products, utilizing legitimate freight channels to move cargo into Australia.
Singh faces multiple charges, including five counts of importing commercial quantities of controlled drugs and illegal tobacco, in addition to offenses related to proceeds of crime and directing a criminal group. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Authorities claim Singh masterminded the import of 50 kg of cocaine concealed within cement bags originating from Panama, 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine shipped from Canada, and over 20 million illicit cigarettes transported from the United Arab Emirates. A freight company based in Punchbowl, a suburb in southwestern Sydney, was allegedly used to facilitate these illegal imports.
The investigation gained momentum in August 2024, when authorities intercepted a liquid methamphetamine shipment arriving from Vancouver. Surveillance operations traced the consignment from port storage to a covert cooling and extraction site in Riverstone, located in Sydney's northwest, leading to the arrest of two individuals. Police have identified Singh as the suspected ringleader based on this initial breakthrough.
Further evidence surfaced in January 2025 when customs officials detected anomalies in a container arriving from the UAE. It was discovered that three separate consignments of illegal cigarettes had already been imported through the Punchbowl freight firm allegedly linked to Singh's network. Law enforcement estimates that the illicit cigarette sales alone generated at least AUD 443,000.
In coordinated raids conducted last month, over 150 officers targeted properties across Wetherill Park, Punchbowl, and nearby suburbs. Singh was arrested outside a private residence near a police van, shortly after exiting a vehicle. Additionally, two Canadian nationals of Indian origin, Aman Kang, 24, and Mani Singh Dhaliwal, 31, were also taken into custody. Police allege that Singh recruited them to recover and distribute the cocaine shipment. Both Kang and Dhaliwal were denied bail and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and participating in a criminal group. A seventh suspect was intercepted at Sydney Airport while attempting to board an international flight.
Law enforcement officials highlight the sophistication of the operation, noting Singh's alleged reliance on encrypted messaging apps, port insiders, and shell companies to facilitate his activities. In one intercepted conversation, Singh reportedly exclaimed "It's fake!" upon realizing that police had replaced the 50 kg of cocaine with an inert substance before a handover.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty emphasized that the syndicate exploited access to legitimate logistics and transport firms to subvert border controls, stating, "This was not a small-scale operation."
Singh and his co-accused are scheduled to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on July 31 for formal arraignment. The case has ignited debate regarding Australia's tobacco excise policy, with NSW Premier Chris Minns citing the operation as evidence that high tobacco taxes are fueling a booming black market. He urged the federal government to re-evaluate the excise regime, arguing that "Our legitimate tobacconists cannot compete with criminals selling cigarettes for a fraction of the cost."
