Operation Amorgos: A Comprehensive Summary of Casefile Presents’ "Crime Interrupted"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Crime Interrupted
• Host/Author: Casefile Presents
• Episode: Operation Amorgos
• Release Date: July 20, 2025
• Description: Crime Interrupted delves into some of the most significant and intricate cases handled by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). This episode, titled "Operation Amorgos," explores a landmark investigation aimed at dismantling a major international drug syndicate.

1. Introduction to Operation Amorgos

Operation Amorgos centers around the AFP's strategic response to a massive cocaine seizure in Sydney. The operation showcases the collaborative efforts between domestic and international law enforcement agencies to tackle large-scale drug importation.

Key Highlights:

• Seizure of 1.28 tonnes of cocaine in a Sydney shipping container marked the beginning of Operation Amorgos.
• The AFP aimed not just to arrest individuals handling the drugs but to dismantle the entire syndicate responsible for such large-scale operations.

2. Discovery of the Cocaine Shipment

The operation kicked off when Australian Border Force identified a shipping container filled with steel, which concealed a substantial amount of high-purity cocaine.

Notable Quote:

"At the end of March 2017, Border Force identified a container full of steel. Inside was 1.28 tonnes of cocaine... one of the biggest ever cocaine seizures in Australia."
— Detective Inspector Stuart Millen [03:41]

Details:

• The cocaine was exceptionally pure (80%), making it highly valuable on the street.
• The sheer volume hinted at the involvement of a well-resourced syndicate.

3. Assembling the Expert Team

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dimetto took charge of assembling a specialized team within the AFP’s Organised Crime Unit, led by Detective Inspector Stuart Millen.

Notable Quote:

"We were very clear, we want to dismantle this syndicate. Okay, what can we do?"
— Stephen Dimetto [02:01]

Team Composition:

• Stuart Millen: Head of the Organised Crime Unit with 20 years of AFP experience.
• Kirsten Spurling: Investigator involved in the initial seizure.
• Jackie: Intelligence officer responsible for gathering actionable intelligence.
• Rach: Case officer tasked with overseeing the operation’s tactical aspects.

4. Strategic Shift: Dismantling the Syndicate

Rather than solely focusing on arresting the importer, the AFP aimed to target higher-ranking members to prevent future drug imports.

Notable Quote:

"We want to really get more of the people involved in this importation, not just the person that this is being delivered to."
— Stephen Dimetto [09:32]

Strategic Objectives:

• Utilize intelligence to identify key players, including the elusive “Governor” and “Kingpin.”
• Disrupt the syndicate’s operations both domestically and internationally.

5. The Innovative "Disappearance" Strategy

In a bold and unprecedented move, the AFP decided to make the seized container disappear to lure the syndicate into revealing themselves.

Notable Quotes:

"It's absolutely unheard of. It's never been done in my career... let's try. Let's be the first."
— Jackie [14:37]

"The idea to have the container vanish was approved by Stephen Dimetto... to tell the target that, hey, the container's been lost."
— Stephen Dimetto [15:42]

Implementation:

• Collaborated with the Australian Border Force to remove and destroy the cocaine.
• Created a believable scenario where the container was lost, compelling the syndicate to seek its return.

6. International Collaboration: New Zealand, Thailand, and Perth

The strategy involved international deception to prompt syndicate members to engage with the AFP.

New Zealand:

• An undercover operative informed the syndicate that the container was found in New Zealand.
• The importer, believing his drugs were recovered, traveled to New Zealand, maintaining communication through encrypted devices.

Notable Quote:

"I think by this time, anxious members of the syndicate were very willing to believe they could get their drugs back."
— Rach [21:16]

Thailand and Perth Attempts:

• Attempts to arrange transactions in Thailand were thwarted when the syndicate sent an incapable negotiator.
• A subsequent meeting in Perth with the businessman and importer did not yield results, highlighting the syndicate's distrust and internal conflicts.

Notable Quote:

"They were all blaming each other... trying to rip us off."
— Stuart Millen [31:31]

7. The Decisive Operation in Serbia

With previous international efforts yielding limited success, the AFP turned to Serbia, leveraging their robust international network.

Notable Quotes:

"The Serbian authorities are absolutely first class in coming to the table to collaborate with us on this investigation."
— Alison Buck [37:20]

"We have AFP offices posted throughout the world... Serbia was the perfect place for a meeting."
— Stuart Millen [33:13]

Execution:

• Coordinated with Serbian police to organize a meeting at the Metropole hotel.
• The syndicate, believing the AFP had no reach in Serbia, felt secure in conducting transactions there.

Arrest Phase:

• An undercover operative engaged the syndicate members in conversation, building trust.
• During the meeting, €690,000 in multiple currencies was presented for the money handover.
• Serbian tactical teams executed simultaneous arrests, capturing the Kingpin, the importer, and the businessman.

Notable Quote:

"It was a great culmination to a long investigation."
— Stuart Millen [44:47]

8. Prosecution and Legal Proceedings

The operation concluded with successful prosecutions, delivering significant sentences to the syndicate members.

Sentencing Outcomes:

• Kingpin: 20 years imprisonment.
• Importer: 18 years imprisonment.
• Businessman: 27 years imprisonment.

Notable Quotes:

"I mean, the key factor would be money... the negative impact on the community that 1.28 tonnes of cocaine has, like, that's mind blowing."
— Rach [49:12]

"It's a real deterrent for those people who want to import drugs into Australia..."
— Stuart Millen [52:37]

Challenges in Prosecution:

• Ensuring admissible evidence from encrypted communications.
• Extradition processes to bring members back to Australia for trial.
• Presenting complex intelligence in court understandable to jurors.

9. Reflections and Impact

The team reflected on the operation's success, emphasizing the importance of innovation, international cooperation, and strategic thinking in combating organized crime.

Notable Reflections:

• Stephen Dimetto: Highlighted the operation as a career highlight, praising the team's innovative approach and collaborative spirit.

  "This was by far the largest... It really taught us that we can be innovative."
  — Stephen Dimetto [56:09]

• Kirsten Spurling: Felt satisfied with targeting higher-ranking members rather than settling for lower-level arrests.

  "Our ability to not just go with the first person... made the investigation incredibly successful."
  — Kirsten Spurling [54:31]

• Jackie: Noted the operational impact on the syndicate, disrupting the logistics arm.

  "We dismantled it. We took Kingpin out and his trusted importer, which cut off that arm."
  — Jackie [57:08]

• Rach: Emphasized the community impact and the personal stories behind the criminals.

  "These are real people in the community... Just normal businessmen."
  — Rach [48:45]

10. Conclusion: A Landmark Operation

Operation Amorgos stands as a testament to the AFP's commitment to not just enforcing the law but strategically dismantling organized crime networks. Through innovative tactics, relentless investigation, and international collaboration, the AFP significantly disrupted a major drug syndicate, ensuring long-term impacts on drug importation into Australia.

Final Thoughts:

• The operation underscored the necessity of thinking outside the box in law enforcement.
• It reinforced the importance of the AFP's international presence and partnerships.
• The successful prosecution served as a deterrent for future criminal activities, safeguarding the community.

For more detailed information on how the AFP protects Australians against international drug importation and the intricate investigation processes involved in Operation Amorgos, visit afp.gov.au.