Married couple at the centre of bizarre billion-dollar drug bust
A recently married couple from Melbourne alongside an IT worker have been arrested and charged with running a customs importing business which dealt with over $1 billion worth of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin.
It is the nation’s largest uncovered methamphetamine haul.
Rachel Annette Cachia and Donovan Mark Rodrigues, both 37, have been described as “trusted insiders” in the customs industry and advised clients on the logistics of importing and exporting goods through their independently owned business.
However, the couple have suffered a violent fall from grace as they may be met with life imprisonment if convicted over the seizure of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin found hidden inside speakers being shipped to Melbourne in April 2019.
On social media, the couple showed off their lavish lifestyle, including holidays with their two young children and luxury sports cars.
Alongside Ms Cachia and Mr Rodrigues is Bayside IT worker Stephen Mizzi, 38, who has also been charged after the Australian Federal Police raided properties in the Melbourne suburbs of Darley, Sunshine West, Brooklyn, Elwood and Murrumbeena.
All three individuals are to face numerous charges of importing illicit drugs.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan alleged the couple were "middle to high up" in the drug operation.
"We feel to a certain extent that they’ve been used," he said.
"They [allegedly] used their positions of trust to circumvent the border control. It will be alleged that two of the three suspects charged are trusted industry insiders."
Australian Border Forces uncovered the drugs after they asked for sea cargo sipped from Bangkok, Thailand to be inspected at a container examination facility, in April.
Officers spotted “anomalies” inside the speakers after an X-ray and took them apart in result.
They found numerous packages containing methamphetamine and heroin that had been vacuum-packed and stuffed inside the speakers.
Court documents allege that Mr Rodrigues and Ms Cachia had begun dealing with proceeds of crime in December 2016.
Then, between June 2017 and July this year, the couple allegedly began arranging the movement of goods without authorisation through ports on numerous occasions between West Melbourne and Brooklyn.
By December 2018, it’s alleged that Mr Mizzi joined in on the drug operation with the plan to help ship heroin and ice to Australia.
Mr Mizzi has also been additionally charged with dishonestly obtaining identification information from a mobile phone in April this year.
The trio faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, where lawyers said it was the first time in custody for both men and that Mr Mizzi had a "blood pressure issue".
Liliana Dubroja, the lawyer representing Ms Cachia, requested a nurse assess her client due to kidney and mental health concerns.
Commonwealth prosecutor Jamey Ellis said police required extra time to compile their brief of evidence due to the extensive number of phone taps.
"There is a significant amount of listening device and telephone material," he said.
The trio was remanded in custody to face court again on May 7. They have not applied for bail.