Geraldton one tonne meth haul: Seven go on trial over Valkoista ice bust

The gang who allegedly sailed 1.2 tonne of meth into Geraldton harbour – which at the time was the largest seizure of ice in Australian history – had already done one massive run of drugs into WA before being captured dockside in 2017. Seven men have today gone on trial in WA’s Supreme Court, charged over the mammoth meth haul almost four years ago, which if it had reached the streets in kilogram lots would have been worth $160 million. Prosecutors say Jabour Anthony Lahood, Christos Cafcakis, Khalid Elia Kaena, Patrick Leandro Bouhamdan, Peter Harb, Serupepeli Anthony Rasuabale and Stephen Baxter were all intricately connected and involved with the operation to collect the drugs from the high seas, and bring them into WA. And opening the case, Heath Barklay QC revealed that a massive police operation had been launched to watch the gang in July 2017 – after they had done another successful run, involving between 400 and 800kg. Evidence about that importation, and the larger one in December which police foiled, will be given to the trial by three more men who were involved in the plan – a boat skipper, a van driver and an organiser. The identities of that trio have been suppressed by the court. Their evidence is set to be central to the 13-week trial to come. Prosecutors will allege that Sydney-based Mr Lahood was one of the main organisers of the scheme, with initial meetings in a Sydney car park in June leading to the purchase of a boat in Perth weeks later. It was at that meeting that the man who was to skipper that boat was recruited, and given $10,000. And the court heard that he and Mr Bouhamdan then flew separately to WA, and were present when the Valkoista was bought for just over $350,000. The boat was then immediately put to work. Days later, the boat was sent offshore out to sea to meet another larger ship to collect the drugs, and bring them into shore. The original berthing spot was to be at Hillary’s. But the size of the Valkoista’s fuel tanks meant they had to divert to Geraldton, where the July shipment was unloaded apparently without anyone noticing. Mr Barklay however, said authorities had been alerted -- and then launched a massive operation involving intense surveillance, telephone intercepts and listening devices. And the information gleaned over the coming months led them to be waiting on the jetty at Geraldton on December 21, when the next massive meth haul arrived. Police say they watched as Mr Lahood and others met up in Bangkok, and talked of a “big one” coming up. They were watching as the importation allegedly stalled twice – and listening as alleged gang members discussed what they were going to get paid, one saying he was up for $250,000, another $2 million. And as the Valkoista left in the afternoon of December 18, 2017 to sail around 300km off the coast to meet the mothership – which was labelled as the “Asian boat” in a satellite phone – police were “completely onto it”. Prosecutors said by now, the police also knew the skipper, Mr Cafcakis and Mr Bouhamdan to be the boat crew. The van driver, Mr Rasaubale and Mr Kaena were the ground crew waiting in a large white van for the drugs to arrive in Geraldton. Prosecutors say Mr Harb had recruited those men. The court heard that among listening devices used by police was one hidden on the boat, which recorded the trip out to meet the Asian mothership – even capturing the moment the alleged handover took place. Prosecutors say The recording captured a crew member on the Asian boat requesting “Money, money” – which Mr Barklay referred to half a Hong Kong banknote which had allegedly been agreed as a signal that the handover should happen. Such a banknote was found in Mr Bouhamdan’s car when he was arrested. When the drugs did eventually arrive, it took just eight minutes for 59 bags – each containing 25kg of meth – to be offloaded into the vehicle. That is when police swooped. Mr Bouhamdan, who was watching on from a hire car, is then alleged to have sent a single message to Mr Lahood in Sydney. “They just got grabbed,” the message read. Prosecutors say Mr Baxter was not in Geraldton, but in a room in a resort in Hillary’s, also waiting for the drugs to arrive. His intention was to take possession of 100kg. Prosecutors say he had already hired a storage unit in Rockingham to store the drugs, and tubs and a trolley from Bunnings to move them. But he never got the chance, after also being arrested that morning. Prosecutors also say he lied to police when later interviewed. All seven men deny the charges, with the trial set to run for months. And Julie Condon, the barrister for Mr Bouhamdan, urged the jury to pay the closest attention to the evidence of the collaborators turned crown witnesses. “The truth is an absolute stranger to these men,” she said. “These two people are heavily enmeshed in criminal activity. You won’t be fooled by (their) masks”.