Updated: 15:23, Thursday November 8, 2012
An alliance is growing between Mexican drug cartels and Australian bikie gangs, investigators say, following the arrest of a senior Comanchero bikie alleged to be a key player in an international drug ring.
The 39-year-old Southbank man was charged following his arrest on Thursday with several drug-related offences including importing a commercial quantity of cocaine and importing methylamphetamine.
He will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court later on Thursday.
Another man, a 49-year-old from Carlton North, was also arrested and is still assisting police with their inquiries.
The men are allegedly involved in an international drug syndicate said to be manufacturing cocaine and other drugs and exporting them from Mexico using airline passengers as couriers.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner of Crime Stephen Fontana said more arrests were expected.
He said the pair were senior organisers of the syndicate and Thursday's arrests would disrupt its supply chain.
Police also seized $30,000 cash, 350 grams of white powder and 2400 pills, believed to be methylamphetamine, he said.
Mr Fontana said the drugs were being imported in the luggage of couriers flying to Australia from the US.
Australian Crime Commission (ACC) National Manager Intervention Warren Gray said the ACC and US authorities had gathered intelligence which showed a growing alliance between Mexican drug cartels and outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia.
He said the arrests came after a 16-month investigation by the Joint Organised Crime Task Force, Australian Federal Police, customs and the ACC.
The arrests follow last month's seizure of 2.4 kilograms of a methylamphetamine-type substance and a seizure in September last year of more than two kilograms of cocaine.
The 49-year-old Carlton North man was also charged with several drug-related offences, including trafficking and possessing cocaine, and will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon.
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