Police in New South Wales have arrested a 31-year-old man at Sydney Airport as part of an investigation into a crime syndicate allegedly involved in the theft and illegal export of baby formula to China. The man was taken into custody on Saturday upon arriving from China, with detectives stating he likely expected the arrest but not at the airport.
The syndicate, allegedly headed by a 48-year-old woman, is believed to have handled more than $1 million worth of stolen goods in the past year, including over 4,000 tins of baby formula and manuka honey. Police suspect the operation may have run for several years, exploiting an overseas market at the expense of Australian consumers.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty described the group as an expansive criminal network motivated by greed. The gang allegedly used a network of thieves to deliver stolen goods to locations in Carlingford before exporting them overseas. Critical information from major retailers helped investigators trace the trail back to the syndicate.
Six people have been arrested in total, including four from the same family. The alleged leader was arrested in August, but police only revealed key details after the latest arrest. Three men aged between 35 and 53, and a 29-year-old woman, have also been charged. Detectives are working with domestic and international investigators and anticipate further arrests.
