A former NRL player and a Bondi businessman have been linked to a drug ring after New South Wales Police recorded the biggest cocaine haul in Australia's history.
The joint strike force between Australian Federal Police and the New South Wales Police drug squad arrested 15 men and seized about $360 million worth of cocaine.
Former Roosters player John Tobin is one of the accused smugglers, along with Bondi businessman Darren Mohr.
The criminal syndicate was allegedly using a trawler based at the Sydney Fish Market to meet a "mother ship" from South America to bring drugs into the country.
About 500 kilograms of the drug was seized on Christmas Day at Brooklyn on the central coast of New South Wales.
Police allege 600 kilograms was seized in Tahiti and 32 kilograms of heroin was found in Fiji with both loads destined for the market in Australia.
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Chris Sheehan, said the police operation had been running for almost three years and escalated with the arrests over the Christmas period.
"The criminal syndicate we have dismantled over the last few days was a robust, resilient and determined syndicate," he said.
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