A man wanted in connection with a significant national and international drug trafficking operation has been arrested on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula amid ongoing Operation Ironside investigations.
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Police said the 47-year-old man was detained at a property on Sunday after fleeing Australia last year when detectives seized 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in a truck at Port Wakefield, north of Adelaide.
Chief Inspector Darren Fielke said the man was also the subject of a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations or RICO indictment issued by the FBI.
He was charged with multiple counts of trafficking in controlled drugs including methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis as well as money laundering with the value of the drugs involving running into the millions of dollars.
"The arrest of this male deals a significant blow to organised crime," Insp Fielke said.
"Police will allege he is the head of a serious organised crime syndicate that operated both nationally and internationally."
It was not known when or exactly why the man, who previously lived in NSW, returned to Australia but investigations were ongoing.
"We believe he fled Australia around April 2021 and since that time, using all the power and all the contacts that we have we've been able to track him back to Australia and ultimately find him on the Yorke Peninsula," Insp Fielke said.
"What the draw for him to come back home, we're not exactly sure yet. But suffice to say he's a significant player."
"From our perspective, having him arrested is a really significant effort."
Insp Fielke said more arrests associated with this syndicate were not out of the question.
Australian Associated Press
