<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An organised crime figure has been jailed for using two airport insiders and a passenger plane to import 100kg of cocaine into </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A federal police investigation began in October 2022 when an airline reported suspicious activity near the cargo area of a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span>-bound flight at Johannesburg, South Africa. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They identified two men, who had access to restricted zones of Sydney Airport, believed to have used their role to access and remove items from the plane's cargo to bypass the regular security screening measures.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-town-hall-protest-lawyers-offer-free-help/7d5dcb70-8488-4e07-80d5-6cd33dd2b2e5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Growing push for scrutiny of Sydney police after protest as lawyers offer free help</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair were linked to a 44-year-old man in Padstow, NSW, accused of running the drug import. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Federal police alleged he is linked to an organised crime group. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Investigators narrowed in on the syndicate while they were offloading about $40 million worth of cocaine from a plane and arrested the 44-year-old at Rushcutters Bay. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/organised-crime-figure-used-airport-insiders-and-plane-in-40-million-drug-plot/b154068a-26fd-45d2-a95e-cde9a8a81e35" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine in October 2024 and was sentenced yesterday to 10 years' imprisonment and will serve a non-parole period of five years. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-la-nia-on-the-way-out-as-experts-flag-possibility-of-el-nio-within-months/d71b613e-c882-4b8e-8053-297da3794460" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>La Niña on the way out as experts flag possibility of El Niño within months</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three other men, including the two airport insiders, have also been sentenced to a combined maximum of 15 years and nine months imprisonment for their role.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian Federal Police detective acting inspector Paul Watt warned others working at airports from becoming involved in crime.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To anyone who works in an airport environment and may be lured in by the false promise a life of crime may offer, let me be very clear – these offences carry the potential of life in jail and Operation Lucian is a testament to that," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" 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