A two-year, multi-agency investigation culminated in the arrest of 42-year-old Gurvindar Singh, whom authorities allege masterminded a sprawling syndicate that smuggled 20 million illegal cigarettes and nearly half a tonne of drugs into Sydney. Police say the operation also involved 50 kg of cocaine concealed in cement bags, 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine, and a network of “trusted insiders” at port facilities facilitating the scheme.
Senior law enforcement sources reveal that the first major breakthrough occurred in August 2024 when MAST intercepted a consignment of 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine shipped from Vancouver, Canada. Undercover surveillance and telephone intercepts enabled officers to trace the illicit cargo from port storage to a clandestine cool-down operation in Riverstone, Sydney’s north-west. Two men were arrested that night, leading investigators to identify Singh as the suspected ringleader behind the syndicate
Further probes uncovered evidence that Singh’s network used a Punchbowl freight company to arrange three separate cigarette shipments from the UAE, totalling more than 20 million illegal cigarettes. When CBP authorities in January 2025 spotted irregularities, the team thwarted one such shipment.
A subsequent raid on a Wetherill Park property in May uncovered 50 kg of cocaine concealed within red cement bags imported from Panama only days earlier. Upon realising police had swapped the cocaine for an inert substance, Singh was allegedly heard on intercepted calls saying, “It’s fake,” police will allege in court.
Investigation Uncovers International Smuggling Network
Beginning in September 2023, the Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST)—comprising NSW Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Crime Commission, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), AUSTRAC, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)—targeted what they describe as a highly organised criminal group linked to a freight forwarding company in Punchbowl. Detectives allege that Singh leveraged legitimate logistics channels to import illegal tobacco and drugs from multiple countries, including Canada, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Panama.
Raid and Arrests
In the early hours of last Friday, more than 150 officers executed coordinated raids across southwestern Sydney, focusing on properties in Wetherill Park, Punchbowl, and surrounding suburbs. Singh was apprehended as he exited a vehicle outside a private residence near a police van.
Six associates—two of whom are Canadian nationals, 24-year-old Aman Kang and 31-year-old Mani Singh Dhaliwal—were also taken into custody. Kang and Dhaliwal are accused of recovering and distributing the 50 kg cocaine consignment to organised crime networks in Sydney. A seventh suspect was arrested at Sydney Airport on Saturday while attempting to board an international flight, police say.
At a Tuesday press conference, AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty remarked,
“These individuals exploited privileged access within legitimate logistics and transport companies to orchestrate large-scale drug and tobacco imports.
They abused the trust inherent in these positions to subvert border controls”.
Fogarty confirmed that investigators seized 20 million illicit cigarettes, 50 kg of cocaine, and 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine during the operation, along with digital devices, cash, and vehicles linked to the smuggling ring.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Singh faces a total of five counts of importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and illegal tobacco, two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime, and two counts relating to leading a criminal group.
If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. Kang and Dhaliwal each face charges of possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and participating in a criminal group. All suspects were denied bail during their initial appearances and will next appear at Downing Centre Local Court in July.
At Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, Singh’s lawyer, Ahmed Dib, argued that his client should be released on bail due to underlying health conditions and his role as the family’s sole breadwinner. Dib offered Singh’s home as surety.
Magistrate Josephine Carling rejected the application, citing the gravity of the charges and risk of flight, as Singh allegedly used a sophisticated international network to facilitate large-scale smuggling.
“Given the volume of illegal tobacco and narcotics purportedly imported, the risk to community safety is substantial,”
Carling observed.
Political Reaction Sparks Debate Over Tobacco Excise
The bust has reignited scrutiny of Australia’s high tobacco excise, with critics arguing that skyrocketing legal prices have fueled the black market. On Wednesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns reiterated calls for the federal government to reassess the current excise regime.
“Our legitimate tobacconists cannot compete with criminals selling cigarettes for a fraction of the cost. Organised crime thrives when legal avenues are strangled by excessive taxation,”
Minns stated.
He cited a recent decline in excise revenue—from $16.3 billion in 2019–20 to a projected $7.4 billion in 2024–25—as evidence that higher taxes have not curbed demand but instead enriched illicit networks.
Minns emphasised that while public health objectives underpin tobacco excise hikes, enforcement has not kept pace. “We have the harshest excise rates, yet law enforcement still lacks sufficient resources to police this market effectively. It’s time for a national strategy to recalibrate the balance between taxation and enforcement,” he told reporters at Parliament House in Sydney.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman countered that the solution lies in bolstering enforcement resources, not cutting excise, warning that reducing the tax could undermine long-term efforts to reduce smoking rates.
Impact and Next Steps
Police allege the syndicate generated at least $443,000 in proceeds from selling illegal cigarettes on Sydney’s black market alone. Additionally, the concealment of 50 kg of cocaine inside cement bags and the attempted importation of 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine demonstrate the network’s ambition and reach.
“This was not a small-scale operation; this was an enterprise worth tens of millions of dollars, spanning multiple continents,”
Superintendent Fogarty noted.
Authorities continue to examine financial records, shipping manifests, and digital evidence seized during raids. Officials warn that further arrests are likely as investigators trace additional conspirators who played roles in financing, logistics, and distribution. The AFP’s financial crime unit is also investigating potential money laundering, as Singh and associates allegedly moved large sums through shell companies and complex financial networks.
As Gurvindar Singh and his co-accused await further court appearances, authorities maintain that this case represents a significant blow to transnational criminal networks operating in Australia. Investigators hope the high-profile arrests and seizures will deter similar operations and prompt policymakers to address longstanding enforcement challenges.
Singh’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 31 at the Downing Centre Local Court, where he will be formally arraigned on all charges.
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