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Man charged after 'significant' firearms parts bust

Man charged after 'significant' firearms parts bust

The Advertiser6 days ago
A man has been accused of trying to import hundreds of firearm parts from the United States in a bid to sell dozens of handguns on the black market.
Grafton Kaifoto, 34, allegedly attempted to send enough parts to make 30 Glock-style handguns to addresses in Queensland and Victoria.
He aimed to construct the handguns from the parts and sell them for $20,000 each, police allege.
It has been hailed as one of the most significant firearms border interceptions in the country.
"This attempt was methodical. It was calculated. It was sophisticated. But we saw right through it," Australian Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman told reporters on Friday.
Kaifoto was intercepted by Australian Border Force at Brisbane International Airport arriving from Los Angeles on June 26.
He was found with consignment papers for nine shipments from the US that were later found to contain firearm parts, police allege.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) were notified and intercepted the packages before they could be delivered to the addresses.
"Our intelligence and targeting team raised alerts across the country," Mr Copeman said.
"Over the next five days, we intercepted hundreds of illegal firearm parts declared and concealed in remote control car parts."
Border Force became aware of Kaifoto on June 19 when a consignment arriving from Italy declared as decorative mugs was found to contain 800g of cocaine, police said.
"This is one of the most significant interceptions at the border of firearms that we know about," AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
Police allege Brisbane man Kaifoto went to the US with the sole purpose of procuring the firearm parts.
They are investigating whether he has links to a wider criminal syndicate in Australia.
Kaifoto had not been cooperating with authorities since his apprehension, Det Telfer said.
He has charged with nine counts of attempting to import firearm parts, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Kaifoto's matter appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and was adjourned until September 19.
A man has been accused of trying to import hundreds of firearm parts from the United States in a bid to sell dozens of handguns on the black market.
Grafton Kaifoto, 34, allegedly attempted to send enough parts to make 30 Glock-style handguns to addresses in Queensland and Victoria.
He aimed to construct the handguns from the parts and sell them for $20,000 each, police allege.
It has been hailed as one of the most significant firearms border interceptions in the country.
"This attempt was methodical. It was calculated. It was sophisticated. But we saw right through it," Australian Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman told reporters on Friday.
Kaifoto was intercepted by Australian Border Force at Brisbane International Airport arriving from Los Angeles on June 26.
He was found with consignment papers for nine shipments from the US that were later found to contain firearm parts, police allege.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) were notified and intercepted the packages before they could be delivered to the addresses.
"Our intelligence and targeting team raised alerts across the country," Mr Copeman said.
"Over the next five days, we intercepted hundreds of illegal firearm parts declared and concealed in remote control car parts."
Border Force became aware of Kaifoto on June 19 when a consignment arriving from Italy declared as decorative mugs was found to contain 800g of cocaine, police said.
"This is one of the most significant interceptions at the border of firearms that we know about," AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
Police allege Brisbane man Kaifoto went to the US with the sole purpose of procuring the firearm parts.
They are investigating whether he has links to a wider criminal syndicate in Australia.
Kaifoto had not been cooperating with authorities since his apprehension, Det Telfer said.
He has charged with nine counts of attempting to import firearm parts, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Kaifoto's matter appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and was adjourned until September 19.
A man has been accused of trying to import hundreds of firearm parts from the United States in a bid to sell dozens of handguns on the black market.
Grafton Kaifoto, 34, allegedly attempted to send enough parts to make 30 Glock-style handguns to addresses in Queensland and Victoria.
He aimed to construct the handguns from the parts and sell them for $20,000 each, police allege.
It has been hailed as one of the most significant firearms border interceptions in the country.
"This attempt was methodical. It was calculated. It was sophisticated. But we saw right through it," Australian Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman told reporters on Friday.
Kaifoto was intercepted by Australian Border Force at Brisbane International Airport arriving from Los Angeles on June 26.
He was found with consignment papers for nine shipments from the US that were later found to contain firearm parts, police allege.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) were notified and intercepted the packages before they could be delivered to the addresses.
"Our intelligence and targeting team raised alerts across the country," Mr Copeman said.
"Over the next five days, we intercepted hundreds of illegal firearm parts declared and concealed in remote control car parts."
Border Force became aware of Kaifoto on June 19 when a consignment arriving from Italy declared as decorative mugs was found to contain 800g of cocaine, police said.
"This is one of the most significant interceptions at the border of firearms that we know about," AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
Police allege Brisbane man Kaifoto went to the US with the sole purpose of procuring the firearm parts.
They are investigating whether he has links to a wider criminal syndicate in Australia.
Kaifoto had not been cooperating with authorities since his apprehension, Det Telfer said.
He has charged with nine counts of attempting to import firearm parts, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Kaifoto's matter appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and was adjourned until September 19.
A man has been accused of trying to import hundreds of firearm parts from the United States in a bid to sell dozens of handguns on the black market.
Grafton Kaifoto, 34, allegedly attempted to send enough parts to make 30 Glock-style handguns to addresses in Queensland and Victoria.
He aimed to construct the handguns from the parts and sell them for $20,000 each, police allege.
It has been hailed as one of the most significant firearms border interceptions in the country.
"This attempt was methodical. It was calculated. It was sophisticated. But we saw right through it," Australian Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman told reporters on Friday.
Kaifoto was intercepted by Australian Border Force at Brisbane International Airport arriving from Los Angeles on June 26.
He was found with consignment papers for nine shipments from the US that were later found to contain firearm parts, police allege.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) were notified and intercepted the packages before they could be delivered to the addresses.
"Our intelligence and targeting team raised alerts across the country," Mr Copeman said.
"Over the next five days, we intercepted hundreds of illegal firearm parts declared and concealed in remote control car parts."
Border Force became aware of Kaifoto on June 19 when a consignment arriving from Italy declared as decorative mugs was found to contain 800g of cocaine, police said.
"This is one of the most significant interceptions at the border of firearms that we know about," AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
Police allege Brisbane man Kaifoto went to the US with the sole purpose of procuring the firearm parts.
They are investigating whether he has links to a wider criminal syndicate in Australia.
Kaifoto had not been cooperating with authorities since his apprehension, Det Telfer said.
He has charged with nine counts of attempting to import firearm parts, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Kaifoto's matter appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and was adjourned until September 19.
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Accused heroin-smuggling grandad refused bail again
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Accused heroin-smuggling grandad refused bail again

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Calverley's lawyer Justine Hopper strongly argued the Australian Federal Police had withheld crucial information until the eve of his original trial date scheduled for later this year, but which was pushed back to early 2026. "He said to them (AFP officers), straight up, 'I've got information for you. I can tell you who's involved'," she said. "There's nothing at all that shows that any federal agent has followed up any information that this man has told them when they pulled him up at the airport at the time." "Their lack of due diligence means that this man sits in custody," she said. The judge acknowledged the late disclosure but was unconvinced Calverley should be released to stay with his daughters in Sydney before the trial. Judge Pickering referred to incriminating Whatsapp text messages that Calverley allegedly sent to his criminal syndicate handlers which were revealed in court in August 2024. He had allegedly told law enforcement officers that he was duped by an international criminal organisation. Upon his arrest, the AFP said the quantity of heroin the West Australian man was accused of importing would have been enough for 25,000 street deals. However, the crown prosecutor argued there was a clear financial incentive involved for the West Australian man by importing the drugs. "There was a substantial amount of money that he was hoping to collect," the court was told. Ms Hopper said a jury could read the messages from "two sides" to which the judge agreed but noted "still probably the odds are against him". The judge said the WhatsApp messages showed that Calverley "knew the very risk he was taking ... and believed he could use the excuse of being scammed as a way out". "There is no question in my mind that this is still and remains a very strong case against the accused." 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He had allegedly told law enforcement officers that he was duped by an international criminal organisation. Upon his arrest, the AFP said the quantity of heroin the West Australian man was accused of importing would have been enough for 25,000 street deals. However, the crown prosecutor argued there was a clear financial incentive involved for the West Australian man by importing the drugs. "There was a substantial amount of money that he was hoping to collect," the court was told. Ms Hopper said a jury could read the messages from "two sides" to which the judge agreed but noted "still probably the odds are against him". The judge said the WhatsApp messages showed that Calverley "knew the very risk he was taking ... and believed he could use the excuse of being scammed as a way out". "There is no question in my mind that this is still and remains a very strong case against the accused." 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Russian couple accused of money laundering scheme to face Qld Supreme Court
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ABC News

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Russian couple accused of money laundering scheme to face Qld Supreme Court

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WA news LIVE: Perth Airport luggage cash haul ‘uncovers $7m in unexplained wealth'
WA news LIVE: Perth Airport luggage cash haul ‘uncovers $7m in unexplained wealth'

Sydney Morning Herald

timea day ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

WA news LIVE: Perth Airport luggage cash haul ‘uncovers $7m in unexplained wealth'

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